Far Out Recordings reissues two early Brazilian jazz gems from original Azymuth keyboardist José Roberto Bertami

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Far Out Recordings reissues two early Brazilian jazz gems from original Azymuth keyboardist José Roberto Bertami

The London-based Far Out Recordings continues it’s deep exploration into the roots of the greatest Brazilian fusion/jazz-funk band, Azymuth, and has recently reissued two outstanding mid-sixties recordings from the late founding member and the band’s original keyboardist, José Roberto Bertami.

Prior to his legendary career working with Azymuth, Elis Regina, George Duke, Sarah Vaughn, Jorge Ben, Eddie Palmieri, Milton Nascimento, Flora Purim, Erasmo Carlos and countless others, Zé Roberto, at the age of nineteen, recorded his first two albums. Both self-titled, the first was with his group Os Tatuís in 1965, and then he followed that up with a recording under the José Roberto Trio in 1965.

The Os Tatuís recording featured Zé Roberto on piano, his brother Claudio Bertrami on double bass, a horn section made up of tenor saxophonist Og Vasconcelos and trumpeter Ivo Mendes, organist Aresky Aratto, and drummer Elizeu de Campos Vieira. The 12-track album included compositions by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Roberto Menescal, Carlos Lyra, Durval Ferreira and Adilson Godoy, as well as Bertrami’s standout composition “A Bossa do Zé Roberto”. The impressive recording is superb blend of early Bossa and Brazilian jazz.

A year after the release with Os Tatuís, Zé Roberto decided to go back into the studio with a more stripped down group, again featuring Claudio on bass, and this time Jovito Coluna on drums. Equally impressive with a bit more of a jazz feel than the previous album, the trio recorded compositions by Baden Powell, Manfredo Fest, and Marcos Valle. The session also featured three of Betrami’s own compositions in “Lilos Watts”, “Kebar” and “Talhuama”.

Both recordings are incredible, and highlight the early brilliance of José Roberto Bertami as a musician and songwriter, skills that he would later apply to arguably the greatest jazz fusion/funk groups of our time.