heloísa fernandes - press article
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www.heloisafernandes.com
Heloisa Fernandespianist and composer
press articles on
www.heloisafernandes.com
Folha de São Paulo18 March 2005(Note: Folha de São Paulo is one of Brazil’s top four national newspapers.)
“FRUTO”The generous and daring paradise of Heloísa Fernandes
Arthur Nestrovski
Suddenly, without any warning, no change of the times, no particular herald, this disc arrives and puts the music of Heloísa Fernandes into the world, now richer and more beautiful, with the rest of us. A pianist and composer, she enters into our discography with impressive security and considerable daring, interpreting an instrumental repertoire in the company of partners such as percussionist Naná Vasconcelos and violinist Claudio Cruz – a contrast of names which, in itself, is a measure of originality.
The first track begins with a repeated pattern of four notes “dó,” in the middle of the keyboard, in 5/4 time. Two details: the syncopations, which shifts the melodic pattern immediately (which is not uncommon), and the accent on the last note, which is more rare and quickly defines the quality of Heloísa as an artist who is a craftsman with her music. It is not surprising that someone who attends to details such as this will then show virtuosic lines played at high speed, played in perfect unison with the flute of Teco Cardoso as if the two players were one.
One of her greatest virtues is an underlying impulse, a joy both sunny and sober, a contentment in the fun and freedom of making music, blended with the responsibility to play everything with meaning, even in the free improvisations (as in “Rosa” by Pixinguinha, played here in a duet with the master bassist Zeca Assumpção). The musical direction of Gil Jardim certainly has a part in this, and ensures a unity to the recording in both form and spirit.
In this context, the Fruto of the title has particular connotations. On one hand, the connotation of paradise and loss, gently internalized in the poetry of Cecília Meireles (1901-64), whose poem Desenho is cited in the booklet: “With Spring, I learned to allow myself to be cut and to return always whole.” Another is the idea of meanings that spring from themselves, to become new, even entirely changed. And yet another: a concrete expression for the music, in an allegory made from beautiful photographs of fruits, that make the booklet designed by Marcilio Godoi a visual complement to that which has no image.
An ex-student of Gilberto Tinetti, and finalist for the Visa award in 2001, Heloísa is a discrete presence in the relatively discrete scene of Brazilian instrumental music, which for many years has provided incredible fruits. She doesn’t give many performances, hardly appearing at all. But she cultivates her art with dedication and patience, the time required to ripen and mature. And then, this disc.
www.heloisafernandes.com
FrutoHeloisa Fernandes | Maritaca
By Matt Cibula
If Helo'isa Fernandes didn't exist, I think I
would have to invent her. Fernandes is a
Brazilian jazz pianist and composer who is
equally influenced by Bill Evans and forró; she
plays with great pointillist intricacy as easily as
she forms great sweeping legato phrases; she
sounds as confident doing her own
improvisational mini-portraits as she does
covering Caetano Veloso songs. Surely she
can't really be real.
And yet she is, and this disc is proof. She gives herself free reign to go
where she will, but somehow manages to imprint her style-of-many-
styles on the listener with no sense of contradiction or worry. In 49
minutes, Fernandes manages to form a unified musical personality, even
though the tracks range from “Voo,” where she lets flautist Teco Cardoso
blow sweetly over her Alan Broadbent-esque fills; to “Colheita,” where
vocal percussionist/madman Naná Vasconcelos does his beatboxing all
over the place; to the meditative “Jasmim,” which is funereal and
somber.
”Criança” is the prettiest, because it's the longest and because the
haunting melody is passed back and forth skillfully amongst Fernandes
and her accompanying string duo, Cláudio Cruz and Alceu Reis. This
melody mutates four or five times in nine minutes, but never really
strays too far from just being beautiful and intricate and meaningful.
Fernandes is not trying to be avant garde here, nor is she aiming for the
lowest common denominator. She is just being herself.
But the much more subdued title track, which comes right afterwards, is
just as deep, and just as important, in half the time. And the childlike
“Rosa,” an older song by folk singer Pixinguinha, manages to be playful
and simple even as it rambles all over the place. Fernandes' attack is
tight, but her fingers are loose, and her ears are wide open. And she
knows how to play with people, too: her interplay with bassist Zeca
Assumpção is probably not actually telepathic, but it must be very close,
as they always know right where to go before the other one makes a
move.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/review_print.php?id=19406
1 of 2 4/20/09 10:19 PM
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www.heloisafernandes.com
Heloisa FernandesHeloisa Fernandes | Maritaca
By Brian Gall
Brazilian pianist Heloisa Fernandes can tickle
both the hearts of those with a quieter, more
elegant classical palette and those whose
survival is reliant upon jazz. Even without a
team of dynamic percussionists and fine string
accompaniment, Fruto is a feat of arrangement
and composition.
Vocal beats in “Colheita” create an epic,
fundamental sound featuring piano and multiple musicians creating
choral rhythms together.
Bottomless, dark violin tones change the character of Fruto during the
fourth number, “Crianca.” Assuming the entire record will be set in a
cheerful scene becomes a fleeting thought as a string duo stabs away
with sorrow before Fernandes re-enters and stylishly brings spirits back
up as the piece interestingly spirals through its nine minutes.
Fernandes pounds her way along the keys and through the record's most
apocalyptic track on the Caetano Veloso-penned “Trilhos Urbanos,” one
of only two songs not written by the pianist. The piece lets loose and
devastates the quite casual sound of the album.
Two drummers, a percussionist and a guest percussionist (Nana
Vasconcelos) do get their rest time, allowing for Zeca Assumpcao
(contrabass) to guide the pianist to another level--one of a jazz duo.
After a challenging, genre-splitting ride, a 90 second finale called “Rita”
serves as a simple goodbye.
The seven-part “Suite das Meninas” moves quickly along through
entirely improvisational material and, juxtaposed against the creatively
crafted first half of the CD, begs for more to be heard.
On the strength of Heloisa Fernandes, hopefully a solo recording is in the
air. Alone, her arrangements stand-up strongly. With this group of
musicians behind her the sound is determined and complete, making for
magnificent Brazilian flavored modern music with jazz in its soul.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/review_print.php?id=31260
1 of 2 4/20/09 10:20 PM
www.popmatters.com POPMATTERS PICKS: THE BEST MUSIC OF 2005 Best Jazz Albums of 2005 by Matt Cibula 19 December 2005 Heloísa Fernandes, Fruto (Maritaca)
This pianist from Sao Paulo loves Bill Evans and old forró music and straight-ahead jazz and avant-garde jazz and classical music and life and love and chil-dren and peace and liberty and friendship, and it all comes across here on this stunning record. Her musical accomplice, Zeca Assumpçao, provides a great bottom end on bass, and guest Nana Vasconcelos does his funky vocal percus-sion thang on “Colheita”. But this is Fernandes’s show all the way. Her manic take on Caetano Veloso’s “Trilhos Urbanos” is like Vince Guaraldi’s undone score for “Charlie Brown Moves to Harlem,” and her chilled-out title tune is a frozen candy bar. But the most ambitious piece is the best one: Her double-tracked pointillist piano and harpsichord work on “Criança” plays nicely off the two cellists who bring this nine-minute piece into the mystic. Better wake up, American jazzos, Brazil is KILLING you right now.
www.heloisafernandes.com
Heloisa FernandesHeloisa Fernandes | Maritaca
By Brian Gall
Brazilian pianist Heloisa Fernandes can tickle
both the hearts of those with a quieter, more
elegant classical palette and those whose
survival is reliant upon jazz. Even without a
team of dynamic percussionists and fine string
accompaniment, Fruto is a feat of arrangement
and composition.
Vocal beats in “Colheita” create an epic,
fundamental sound featuring piano and multiple musicians creating
choral rhythms together.
Bottomless, dark violin tones change the character of Fruto during the
fourth number, “Crianca.” Assuming the entire record will be set in a
cheerful scene becomes a fleeting thought as a string duo stabs away
with sorrow before Fernandes re-enters and stylishly brings spirits back
up as the piece interestingly spirals through its nine minutes.
Fernandes pounds her way along the keys and through the record's most
apocalyptic track on the Caetano Veloso-penned “Trilhos Urbanos,” one
of only two songs not written by the pianist. The piece lets loose and
devastates the quite casual sound of the album.
Two drummers, a percussionist and a guest percussionist (Nana
Vasconcelos) do get their rest time, allowing for Zeca Assumpcao
(contrabass) to guide the pianist to another level--one of a jazz duo.
After a challenging, genre-splitting ride, a 90 second finale called “Rita”
serves as a simple goodbye.
The seven-part “Suite das Meninas” moves quickly along through
entirely improvisational material and, juxtaposed against the creatively
crafted first half of the CD, begs for more to be heard.
On the strength of Heloisa Fernandes, hopefully a solo recording is in the
air. Alone, her arrangements stand-up strongly. With this group of
musicians behind her the sound is determined and complete, making for
magnificent Brazilian flavored modern music with jazz in its soul.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/review_print.php?id=31260
1 of 2 4/20/09 10:20 PM
www.heloisafernandes.com
TRACKS:
All tracks by Heloísa Fernandes, except
where noted.
Vôo1.
Rosa (Pixinguinha)2.
Colheita3.
Criança4.
Fruto5.
Trilhos Urbanos (Caetano
Veloso)
6.
Jasmin7.
Suíte das Meninas
(improvisations)
Beatriz
Isabel
Maria
Laura
Inês
Rita
8.
Heloísa Fernandes
Fruto
Maritaca M1015 (2004)
Time: 48'15"
Fruitful Combinations
Reviewed by Kees Schoof Kees Schoof
April 2005
After listening to this album, Fruto, it is hard to understand how it is
possible that the name of Heloísa Fernandes is so unknown. She
is an incredible pianist, an outstanding jazz musician with a
marvelous taste for music.
It was her mother who guided her during her first contacts with the
piano, at age five, the beginning of a long road of studying and
perfecting skills. She completed her piano studies with distinction
at the Conservatório Dramático e Musical in São Paulo, followed
by studies in composition, harmony, orchestration and teaching at
the Centro Livre de Aprendizagem Musical. Heloísa participated in
various daring project. As part of a duo with percussionist Ari
Colares, she performed ethnic and religious music. Together with
pianist Benjamim Taubkin she performed in the project "Pianos em
Duo." Later she was invited by Ari Colares to join in with the
"Percussionistas" project. Meanwhile Heloísa was among the 5
finalists at the 2001 Prêmio Visa, Brazil's prestigious music award
(that year won by Yamandú). It is clear that the pianist/composer
knows her art very well. At this first album there is an impressive
proof of that. You can't help thinking about Eliane Elias when you
listen to Heloísa. Not because the two Brazilian pianists sound alike, but because you wonder how it's
possible that Eliane Elias is world wide known while only few people know Heloísa Fernandes. Heloísa is
most certainly a musician deserving wider recognition. On
the other hand we should be glad she decided to stay in
Brazil, a decision that makes her music sound much more
authentic, or, if you wish, personal.
On this cd the pianist can be heard in various strengths and
various musical styles. An important part is played by
bassist Zeca Assumpção, who gets a chance to show his
indisputable mastership. His sound is beautiful and his bass
lines are perfectly chosen. It seems like he and Heloísa
Heloísa Fernandes: Fruto file:///Users/user/Documents/Artists/Heloisa%20Fernandes/Curren...
1 of 2 7/30/09 9:31 PM
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www.heloisafernandes.com
HOME BRAZILIAN MUSIC LINKS DISCOGRAPHIES REVIEWS/INTERVIEWS WEB RADIO WHO WE ARE
TRACKS:
All compositions by Heloísa Fernandes.
Rebuliço1.
Catirinha2.
Antoninho3.
Candeias4.
Praiás5.
Andarilho6.
In-Depth Reviews Since September 7, 2002
Heloísa Fernandes
Candeias
Independent (2009)
Time: 45'45"
Updating Roots
Reviewed by Kees Schoof
September 2009
Some four years ago I ended my review of Heloísa Fernandes' debut
album Fruto (2004) with an impatient curiosity about the pianist's next
project. It took a while, but the result even surpasses the high expectation
that I dared to cherish in my musical wishes.
The pianist/composer from São Paulo (for biographical notes, please visit
the review page of Fruto) didn't "just" record a follow-up. Heloísa
Fernandes managed to deliver a masterful piece of music that was
preceded by some serious research in Brazil's folkloric musical heritage.
On the album Fruto it was easy to notice that the pianist combines a very
personal style with warm influences from the rich Brazilian music tradition. It must be part of Heloísa Fernandes'
talent, since she sublimated her interest in the roots of Brazilian music by a year of intensive studying. The basis
of the study was the book "Melodias Registradas por Meios Não-Mecânicos" (Melodies Recorded by
non-Mechanical Devices) by anthropologist Mário de Andrade, published in 1946. In that book De Andrade and
his erudite research team transcribed during the period 1936-1938 no less than 570 folkloric songs from various
parts of Brazil, creating a valuable source of basic Batuque, Cateretê, Caboclinho, Praiá and other folkloric
rhythms and styles. The almost forgotten or unconventional conserved music was thus made available for further
exploration. And that's exactly what Heloísa Fernandes pursued in her linked up project "Melodias do Brasil:
Identidade e Transformação" in which she completely absorbed the anthropologic music and its historical
atmosphere. It all served as an inspiration for Heloísa's compositions that we hear on Candeias. The album
doesn't serve as a history class but more as a class in how history can form the basis of contemporary music.
Music connects to people and people connect to their ancestors. This CD is the reflection of that.
www.heloisafernandes.com
www.heloisafernandes.com
Público
Em tempo de Quaresma, Braga celebrou o jazz
17 March 2010
(Público is a Portuguese national daily newspaper and is widely regarded as Portugal's
newspaper of record.)
In the time of Lent, Braga celebrates Jazz
The music of Heloísa Fernandes is elegant, sophisticated and original
by Nuno Catarino
We're in Lent, a period that precedes Easter and that requires fasting and abstinence for
believers, a time experienced by the inhabitants of Braga with particular intensity.
However, in the city of archbishops these rules of fasting are not applied to jazz. Theatro
Circo was invaded by the BragaJazz Festival during two consecutive weekends in a
program dominated by projects led by women.
The second weekend of BragaJazz started on Friday night, April 12th, with the Heloísa
Fernandes Trio. The Brazilian pianist proved to be a very pleasant surprise, unfolding an
elegant, sophisticated and original music. Using the jazz language as a starting point and
evidence of an affinity for classical music, Fernandes began with an interesting blend of
sobriety and restraint at the piano, and then expressed a great intelligence in the
development of themes, constructing a highly structured music.
Evoking at times the inventiveness of Keith Jarrett, the piano of Heloisa Fernandes could
explore the tension of each theme, making the music grow smoothly and fluidly. The
pianist was accompanied by a great rhythmic duo: Zeca Assumpção on bass and Ari
Colares on percussion – whose unique kit filled with ethnic instruments was well utilized.
The concert was almost exclusively based on original compositions, inspired by Brazilian
folklore, and the trio played only one theme by another composer – Trilhos Urbanos, by
Caetano Veloso – and remained well clear of MPB’s clichés (Brazilian Popular Music).
This led to an original music that the public recognized with loud applause and a standing
ovation.
www.heloisafernandes.com
May 2010
www.heloisafernandes.com
CandeiasHeloisa Fernandes | Self Produced
By Raul d'Gama Rose
The pursuit of art is ceaseless, firstly because
the artist is--to use the Latin from whence it
came and it reads thus: poeta nascitur non fit.
Art is, as well, an exposition of life as it
tumbles upon the world, this way and that.
However, for the artist there is another raison
d'être. The impulse to adorn, to make
art--poetry, music, painting, and even
architecture--is first revealed in the soul. Its
nature is especially innate in the artist, so amorphous and elastic that it
is difficult to predict the outcome. The artist then becomes inspired to
channel the impulse and give his or her art form. This is quite a sojourn,
especially where cultures collide and. like meteors. must be left
sometimes to cool for hundreds of years.
Fortunately, artists and historians often are alter egos and sometimes
make strange bedfellows--even if they lived years apart. Pianist Heloísa
Fernandes lived almost five decades apart from Mario de Andrade, but
on Candeias their lives intersect, and the music they love and seek to
see comes alive in such a way as to preserve its history and origins, as
well as put it in the context of today. De Andrade is a genius
anthropologist, sociologist, poet and musician from Sao Paolo who led a
historic expedition in 1938 to document the music of Afro Brazil and the
Amerindians of Pernambuco, Parafba, Ceara, Piaui and Maranhao. Now
Heloisa has followed his example, albeit spiritually and figuratively as
well.
After immersing herself in De Andrade's documentation, for Candeias
Fernandes chose some of the traditional forms and gave them rebirth.
These musical forms--some of them worship songs and dances, others
profane expressions of love for the spirits--are carried in the souls of
Brazilian people. Fernandes gives them new life with superlative
interpretations all her own. De Andrade's amazing musical documents
formed the spirit of the songs so masterfully shape-shifted into a world
where time and space have become one.
On these songs, Fernandes is joined by the masterful bassist, Zeca
Assumpcao and the percussion colorist, Ari Colares. The musicians
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/review_print.php?id=34281
1 of 2 10/6/09 8:56 AM
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Estado de Minas
Brasil Profundo
21 August 2009
(Estado de Minas is the leading newspaper published in Belo Horizonte, the capital of the Brazilian
state of Minas Gerais).
Profound Brazil
Heloisa Fernandes releases CD inspired by popular culture
by Eduardo Tristão Girão
It's almost impossible not to remember Egberto Gismonti when listening to Candeias, the second CD
by pianist Heloísa Fernandes, born in São Paulo. This doesn’t happen by chance: both musicians
“drink” directly from the source in Brazil to develop their own language at the piano. Accompanied
by bassist Zeca Assumpção and percussionist Ari Colares, she performs tonight at Juvenal Dias,
showing her new instrumental repertoire inspired by folk melodies compiled by researchers of the
1930s.
The researchers, in this case, are Mário de Andrade, Oneyda Alvarenga, Martin Braunweiser and
Camargo Guarnieri, who collected 570 melodies in different regions of the country (including Minas
Gerais) between 1936 and 1938. It's all in the book A Register of Melodies Recorded via Non-
Mechanical Means, published in 1946. “Most striking is that the melodies were handwritten, because
at that time, audio recording was not available. Their work enchanted me,” said Heloisa, who began
the project's research two years ago. The album was recorded between April and June in São Paulo.
From this enchantment, six original compositions were created that comprise the album. Separately or
together, they clearly show the assimilation of these “ancestral melodies” into the pianist's music. “In
the work of Mário de Andrade, I found a visceral passion for Brazil’s culture. I identified with it. The
country has great richness and beautiful music with many influences, a great mixture,” she says.
The result shows us that, with talent, the appropriation of elements of popular Brazilian music opens
unlimited possibilities. Yes, she performs in a trio, but her music doesn’t have a close kinship to
traditional jazz trios. It’s closer to the unclassifiable work of the master Gismonti, which is hardly
ever described with such labels.
“Gismonti is my great musical passion,” confirms Heloísa. The song's names are suggestive:
Rebuliço, Catirinha, Antoninho, Candeias, Praiás, and Andarilho.
PATHS
Candeias succeeds Fruto (2005), Heloísa’s first album, released with Zeca Assumpção, Ari Colares,
Nana Vasconcelos, Teco Cardoso, Claudio Cruz and Alceu Reis, among others. “The language and
the way of playing on the two CDs are related. Fruto brings forth the Brazilian character that I
pursue, and that I realize more clearly in Candeias. Anyway, there is unity between them,” observes
the pianist.
The current tour, which began earlier this month, was awarded to Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Belo
Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Paulo. After these performances, Heloísa plans to
release an album with harmonica player Gianluca Littera, and record another with American flutist
Keith Underwood.
www.heloisafernandes.com
Pianist plays from heart
Brazil native blends folk influence with energy of jazz
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www.heloisafernandes.com
A conversation between Heloísa Fernandes and Post and
Courier writer Adam Parker
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www.heloisafernandes.com
Guia da Folha
Candeias
25 September 2009
(Guia da Folha is a widely read weekly guide that appears in Folha de São Paulo, one of
Brazil's largest daily newspapers and published in São Paulo.)
Candeias
by Irineu Franco Perpetuo
Brazil has developed an interesting recent tradition of popular young pianists, who seem
to reflect the taste for the blended contexts of Egberto Gismonti, the refinement of Luiz
Eça, and the pure jazz of Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett.
Heloisa Fernandes is part of this generation and, with the support of Petrobras, decided
to dedicate herself to the folk research material collected and organized by Mário de
Andrade and his collaborators in the 1930s and published in the book "A Register of
Melodies Recorded via Non-Mechanical Means."
But just because folklore is the source, the result does not have to be noisy or dressed in
garish colors. Consisting of original compositions, drawn from popular sources,
Fernandes constructs an intimate and chamber music universe of sound in subtle dialogue
with the percussionist Ari Colares and Zeca Assumpção, and with an exquisiteness that is
found in all aspects of the CD, including the booklet and the high quality of the sound
recording.
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