Funky bateria beats

For Pascoal Meirelles, Brazil will always remain an inspiration to his lifelong passion for the drums, writes AREF OMAR

COMING from the land of bossa nova and samba, it’s no surprise that a young Pascoal Meirelles was influenced by the alluring rhythms of his native homeland.

“My mother gave me my first bateria (drum set) when I was 12 and it was like magic. From that moment I felt that no other career was more important than music,” says the now 64-year-old jazz drummer and composer, recalling sweet memories of spending hours trying to emulate his favourite drummers.

Born in Belo Horizonte in the southeastern region of Brazil, Meirelles was 18 when the bossa nova movement gained popularity in the early 60s.

The music style, roughly translated as “new trend” in Portuguese, was pioneered by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes and Joao Gilberto.

It enriched the standard jazz repertoire and eventually gained worldwide appeal with recordings by famous jazz performers like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

“In Brazil music is everywhere. When I was young, my father and my two brothers played the piano and tenor saxophone,” he says of his natural inclination to music.

“Bossa nova has a lot to do with jazz and the musicians at that time were playing a style known as samba jazz, which I grew up listening to.”

The self-taught drummer started his career the usual way, by playing at dances and in nightclubs.

He later moved to Rio de Janeiro and kept himself busy performing in various groups and with touring, in addition to recording with Brazilian artistes such as João Bosco and Ivan Lins.

In 1975, Meirelles received a study grant and went to the Berklee College of Music in America, where he eventually became the first Brazilian drummer to graduate from the renowned institution.

During that period, Meirelles was invited to play the drums on Jobim’s 1980 album, Tera Brasilis, in New York, which was a defining moment in his life.

He then went on to form Cama de Gato, a jazz fusion quartet that became one of the most successful instrumental groups of the 80s in Brazil.

In addition to releasing several albums and touring with the group, Meirelles’ overflowing creativity also led him to produce his own solo albums and form two other groups, a sextet and trio bearing his namesake.

“The difference between the groups is the approach on the repertoire. With Cama de Gato, it’s all original music by the musicians but with the sextet, I compose my own material,” he says.

“For the Pascoal Meirelles Trio, I usually interpret Brazilian standards.”

Come December, Malaysians will get to experience the music of the Pascoal Meirelles Trio, which will be performing at the Penang Island Jazz Festival.

Aside from Meirelles, the trio will also feature two seasoned and multitalented Brazilian musicians, guitarist Nelson Faria and bassist Andre Neiva.

“I formed the trio to travel the world. A small group is easier financially, plus we have more room to showcase our improvising skills,” says Meirelles, who is very much involved with the craft of music composition, which he feels is like an instrument that needs daily practice for ongoing development.

“Inspiration can come from anywhere. After I was invited to play in Penang, I wrote a tune called Malaysia, which we’ll perform during the jazz festival,” he says.

With over 40 years of drumming experience, Meirelles also enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge by conducting workshops and master classes that have taken him around the world.

“I think music is a blessing from God and anyone who receives this blessing has an obligation to help others through education.”

• Catch the Pascoal Meirelles Trio on Dec 6 (8pm) at the Penang Island Jazz Festival at the Bayview Beach Resort Gardens, Batu Ferringhi, Penang. Admission is RM53. Pascoal Meirelles will also conduct a workshop on Brazilian grooves at 11.30am on the same day. Visit www.penangjazz.com for details.