Jazz Personalities: Laurindo Almeida (Brasil)

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Laurindo Almeida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Laurindo Almeida, c. 1947

Laurindo Almeida (September 2, 1917, São Paulo, Brazil–July 26, 1995, Van Nuys, California) was a Brazilian guitarist.

Prior to being invited to the United States in 1947 by Stan Kenton, Laurindo Almeida played guitar in Rio de Janeiro where he was known for his classical Spanish guitar playing. He joined Kenton's band during the height of its success in the 1940s, then was employed as a studio musician. In 1953 he recorded, with Bud Shank, two albums called Brazilliance for the World Pacific label. He also recorded with Baden Powell, Stan Getz and Herbie Mann, among others, and recorded for film and television, like 1956s Good-bye, My Lady. From 1974 through 1982 he was a member of the chamber Jazz group The L.A. Four.

It was during the late 1950s and early 1960s when he enjoyed his greatest recognition, winning several Grammy Awards for his work. His recordings of duets with vocalist Salli Terri and flautist Martin Ruderman won Grammy Awards for Best Engineered Album, Classical in 1959, and for Best Chamber Music Performance in 1961. The following year, as composer and artist of Discantus, he won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. In 1965 he won Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance - Large Group or Soloist with Large Group.

He died on July 26, 1995, aged 77.

 Albums

• Collaboration (with The Modern Jazz Quartet)
• Brazilliance (vol. 1)
• Brazilliance (vol. 2)
• Happy Cha Cha Cha
• Viva Bossa Nova!
• Ole! Bossa Nova
• Broadway Solo Guitar
• Guitar From Ipanema
• Stan Getz with Guest Artist Laurindo Almeida Polygram Int'l B0000046V9
• Laurindo Almeida's San Fernando Guitars: New Broadway-Hollywood Hits
• A Man and a Woman
• The Look of Love
• Conversations With the Guitar Capitol SP8532
• Reverie for Spanish Guitars Capitol P8571
• Acapulco '22
• Duets with the Spanish Guitar (1958)
• The Spanish Guitars of Laurindo Almeida
• For My True Love Capitol SP8461
• Duets with the Spanish Guitar, vol. 2 Capitol SP8582 (1962)
• Impressoes do Brasil Capitol P8381
• Sammy Davis, Jr. Sings and Laurindo Almeida Plays (1966)
• Danzas! Capitol P8467
• Contemporary Creations for Spanish Guitar Capitol P8447
• The New World of the Guitar Capitol 8392
• Guitar Music of Latin America Capitol P8321
• The Guitar Worlds of Laurindo Almeida Capitol SP8546
• Latin Guitar Dobre Records DR1000
• Jazz From A to B Unique Jazz UNQ1049
• Brazilian soul (duo with Charlie Byrd)1981-1983
• Latin Odyssey (with Charlie Byrd)1981-1983
• Bachground Blues & Greens (with Ray Brown) Century City 80102
• Classical Current Warner Bros.-Seven Arts WS 1803
• Masters of the Guitar, Disk 7 Murray Hill S-4194
• Music of the Brazilian Masters (with Charlie Byrd and Carlos Barbosa-Lima) Concord Picante CCD-4389 (1989)

Concert Film

• Tanya Maria: The Beat of Brazil with Special Guest Laurindo Almeida
• Laurindo Almeida - A Tribute to a Master

 

 External links

• Laurindo Almeida biography
• Laurindo Almeida at the Internet Movie Database
• Laurindo Almeida biography and discography in portuguese
• Laurindo Almeida Blog with out of print downloads
• Some photos of LP covers (Oviatt Library Digital Collections)