Sergio Mendes wants BPM for export

Spending a few days in Brazil, the musician checks out the new BPM thinking of his next album

Nana Vaz de Castro
27/12/2000
Sergio Mendes does not fool around. Back in Brazil for the New Year holidays, he is sharply researching everything that is new in the Brazilian music scene. "I have been to São Paulo, Bahia and Rio, and I'm taking lots of CDs with me to the U.S.", says the arranger and pianist, who received AllBrazilianMusic in his hotel room, facing Copacabana beach. Right now, Sergio is working on the repertoire for his upcoming album, which should start being recorded by February, when he returns to America from a tour in Japan.

In São Paulo, singer Chico César was the host who introduced a few new acts to Mendes, "but I haven't decided anything, yet. I gotta listen to the discs, first, and if I mention A or B, C will feel bad", he states, cautiously, although glad with what he's heard so far.

In Rio, his friend Guinga, from whom Sergio has recorded a number of songs, surprised him with the guitar quartet Maogani. "I was impressed with them, never seen anything quite like that. I'll try and take them to record with me, we're going to work on arrangements together", plans the pianist, overwhelmed by the guitarists' sound.

Mendes visits Bahia regularly, always in search of inspiration, ever since he made the album Brasileiro with Carlinhos Brown in 1992. With six Brown songs in it, Sergio won a Grammy for Best World Music Album that year. Settled in the States since the 60s, when he forged the mix of jazz and BPM that has kept him on top to this day, Sergio Mendes is currently living in Los Angeles and is better known outside of Brazil. His next album is scheduled for September 2001.