Brazilian jazz-funk trio Azymuth at Union Chapel on October 12
THERE are few bands who can claim to have had more of an influence on making Brazilian music global than jazz-funk legends Azymuth.
At a Union Chapel show to celebrate more than 50 years of music-making, the trio from Rio played an extensive set of their self-defined “crazy samba” hits.
Just one of Azymuth’s founding members – bass player Alex Malheiros – is still alive. Dressed in a black suit, sunglasses and a singular black glove, Mr Malheiros was clearly the focal piece of the show, slapping his bass guitar with bravado and swagger.
More recent members Dudu Viana on keys and Renato “Massa” Calmon on drums spent large portions of the two-hour set paying tribute to the bassist and the band’s original line-up. There was a sense that even to share the stage with one of Brazil’s musical icons was the honour of a lifetime.
And this appreciation was matched by a roaring reception from the audience, aware that they were in the presence of genuine musical legends.
Azymuth were founded in the 1970s in Rio De Janeiro and found international success with their early releases: their 1979 hit Jazz Carnival reached number 19 in the UK singles chart.
Their discography includes more than 30 albums, from the dreamy, rhythmic jazz of Telecommunication, to the pulsating synth-funk of recent album Marca Passo, released on London label Far Out Recordings.
The tender tones of the Fender Rhodes keyboard that have been a staple on all of their records have been sampled in countless hip-hop tunes throughout the decades, used by artists like Madlib, J Dilla and even Will I Am of Black Eyed Peas.
And no stone was left unturned throughout the set. They played recognisable hits like Morning and Last Summer in Rio but also took the audience on 17-month-long improvisational jams, switching between instruments and vocal melodies.
At one point, all three musicians abandoned their instruments and picked up an array of native Brazilian percussive instruments mimicking the sound of frogs and Amazonian creatures.
The 19th-century gothic church is steeped in sincerity and boasts a rich history – the perfect setting for a band whose legacy is revered among music fans, young and old alike.
And when they came off the stage, there was a standing ovation and a 10-minute applause from the awe-struck crowd.
With Mr Malheiros in his 80s, there was a collective understanding that catching this band while they are still performing should not be taken for granted.
The band do not tour regularly and there are no assurances they will continue playing their iconic music in the years to come.
It was a special night in a special venue.
