Laurindo Almeida
Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida in my opinion is one of the greatest arrangers of music for classical guitar. His album Broadway Solo Guitar is proof of that. When I heard that album I was an instant fan. He had learned counterpoint which he made wonderful use of. His arrangements are so well crafted for the guitar that they lay on the fingerboard very easily. It takes some kind of genius to make an arrangement play easily yet sound so wonderful.
Later I was to find that not only was he extremely talented but was one of the nicest and kindest souls one could ever find.
Early on Laurindo was to become one of my guitar heros, his recordings helped usher in the Bossa Nova to this country. I soon became hooked on Brazilian music.
After collecting his albums for many years, I was totally surprised to get a call from Laurindo to work on a project together. It was a challenging and rewarding experience to work with someone of his caliber.
Like so many of the greats he left us too soon. . .
Telenews Bio of Laurindo
Another Laurindo Almeida Site
Laurindo's Almeida Quartet Jazz CD
Laurindo Almeida Jazz CD
Bio and more CD reviews
The Folkbook Index of Laurindo Almeida
Almeida was born Laurindo Jose de Araujo Almeida Nobrega Neto on September 2, 1918 in Prainha, a village in Brazil's Sau paulo State, near the port city of Santos. He was completely self-taught as a musician, except for some early training from his mother, an amateur pianist. |
