Jose Roberto Bertrami – Piano and Keyboards

Ivan Conti - Drums and percussion.

Alex Malheiros - Bass and guitar.


Azymuth is a trio from Brazil who is totally unique, original and can definitely be
described as one of the greats! The members of the group are: José Roberto Bertrami
(born February 21, 1946, in Tatui, Brazil) on acoustic piano and keyboards, Alex
Malheiros (born August 19, 1946, in Niteroi, Brazil) on bass, and Ivan Conti (born
August 16, 1946, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) on drums. Classically trained and
originally influenced by pianists Bill Evans and Luiz Eca (of the Tamba 4), Bertrami
worked with Flora Purim and Robertinho Silva before meeting Conti at a Rio nightclub.
Upon a visit to a bowling alley/club in 1972, they heard Malheiros and decided to join
forces to form Azymuth.


It was Marcos Valle who was the catalyst for their initial exposure when he invited
them to record on a soundtrack LP in tribute to the Formula 1 racing driver Emerson
Fittipaldi. One of the tracks was entitled Azimuth, and after the great success of this
record in Brazil they asked Marcos if they could use it as the name for their band.
This was the official start of Azymuth. At this point there was a fourth member,
Ariovaldo - the percussionist of the group who died tragically in the mid-Seventies,
throwing into question the continued existence of the band. I had heard that they had
to change the spelling of the name Azimuth to Azymuth because of the existence of the
trio Azimuth in Europe (John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone) but I’ve never actually had this confirmed.


Their first recording as a quartet was a four track EP with Polydor, which went on to
be used in a successful novella (Brazilian soap opera), which is one of my prize
possessions. Then followed their first album release in 1975, Linha Do Horizonte. This
album has just got its first official re release complete with a bonus disc of remixes,
courtesy of Far Out records. It was however the classic second album Aguia Nao Come
Mosca that was an even bigger success and it was also released in the USA and Japan on
Atlantic Records, bringing Azymuth international attention for the first time. In fact
the first time I heard Azymuth was when a dj on then Piccadilly Radio in Manchester,
called Phil Wood, used to use the track ‘Vo Sobre o Horizonte’ as a bed , and I was one
of the hundreds of people who rang up to find out what the track was, ah the good old
days of radio! This LP led to a world signing with the North American jazz label
Milestone Records. To the band this was something of a surprise. they were just playing
their own music, which they saw as MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) with a touch of
jazz. I’ve never really understood where the term Samba Doido (crazy samba) comes from in reference to their music. To my ears they are a fusion band, mixing their strong and
uninhibited jazz influences with the rhythms of Brazil to create a totally new music
that has influenced countless musicians and bands around the globe for close to 35
years. In the early days they also were the most in demand session musicians in Brazil
because of their attitude and outlook. Bertrami himself used to travel to America to
buy the latest keyboards so he could produce sounds that nobody else in Brazil was and
it’s this attitude that helped them crossover to international success. Their biggest
hit of course was ‘Jazz Carnival’ a tune that everybody knows, even if you think you
don’t. As a single, it sold over 500,000 internationally and remained in the UK top 20
for eight weeks. Azymuth went on to record a string of albums on Milestone,
establishing themselves as one the world’s great jazz bands. They played in the best
jazz festivals and venues around the globe, and worked with other musicians like Chick
Corea, Joe Henderson, Deodato and Stevie Wonder.
 

Like all bands that are together for a long time, things start to get on top of you for
many reasons and the original line up of Azymuth split in 1987. Even though their were
various incarnations over the next few years it wasn’t until Far Out records boss Joe
Davis searched them out and impassioned them to return to the studio and to tour again
in 1996.Ivan Mamao Conti says of the label “Far Out brought the Band on the road again,
this label is important because it gives us another kind of sound. Some years ago we
were stopped for a few and we said "let’s get something new started" and Far Out
brought the old Azymuth forward again.”  Since 1996 the Azymuth sound has gone from
strength to strength and has gained many new, younger fans across Europe. Through their
energetic shows and especially through remixes by some of the most exciting producers
around, they’ve become an important force once again on the underground jazz scene.


Their live shows are also a triumph where they showcase their intuitive musical
telepathy and are still a trio with an enormous vibe and sound way beyond their small
numbers! I will never forget the Band on the Wall in 1997, the first time they had
played Manchester and the excitement generated by the crowd made Mamao bring a video camera onto the stage for the encore, put it on top of Malheiros’ tall bass stack and
video the audience going crazy during the encore, I would love to see that footage!
They are on tour in the UK again this March playing music from their first album from
1975 for the first time here alongside their hits and the beautiful Brazilian fusion
that they invented. Check out the dates below and catch them while you can. One of the
true great and original bands of the electric jazz era!


2 Mar 2007 20:00  The Bongo Club Edinburgh, Scotland

3 Mar 2007 20:00  Vibrophonic Festival, The Phoenix Exeter, South

4 Mar 2007 20:00  Liquid Fusion, Zinc Bar Birmingham, Midlands

8 Mar 2007 20:00  Mint Lounge Manchester, Northwest

9 Mar 2007 20:00  Brewery Arts, Kendal Cumbria, Northwest

10 Mar 2007 20:00  Jazz Cafe London, London and South East