Azimüth
Azymuth
1975
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
The album Azimüth, released in 1975, is an initial landmark for the eponymous band, establishing the foundations of their distinctive sound, the "samba doido". In this work, the trio of experienced musicians, José Roberto Bertrami, Alex Malheiros, and Ivan Conti, solidified an original fusion that smoothly transitions between samba, funk, and elements of jazz fusion. The album is an authentic expression of the group's creativity, offering a predominantly instrumental sonic experience, innovative for its time. Through their compositions, Azymuth creates rich and engaging soundscapes, consolidating a musical identity that would come to be recognised for its originality and sophistication. The album stands out as a fundamental piece in MPB's discography, showcasing the members' talent and versatility in manipulating various musical languages to form a cohesive and captivating style.
Context
Before the formation of Azymuth, José Roberto Bertrami, Alex Malheiros, and Ivan Conti were already well-known figures in the Brazilian music scene since 1968, working as studio musicians. They accompanied various artists on labels such as Equipe and, subsequently, Phonogram, participating in albums by names like Raul Seixas, Rita Lee, Elis Regina, and Odair José. This experience provided them with a solid and versatile foundation. In 1973, the trio, then known as "Projecto III", was invited to join Marcos Valle and his brother's team for the recording of the soundtrack to the documentary "O Fabuloso Fittipaldi". Producer Armando Pittigliani's suggestion to adopt the title of Marcos Valle and Novelli's song, "Azimuth", as the name for the trio, marked the official birth of the band. In the following years, they continued to collaborate and tour with major names in Brazilian popular music before recording their first LP under the name Azymuth.
Recording
The album Azimüth was recorded in 1975 at the "Havaí" studio. After the recordings were completed, the album was offered to various record labels. It was Som Livre that acquired the acetates and released the LP.
Songs
One of the album's most prominent songs is "Linha do Horizonte", which opens the record. The track gained notoriety by being included in the soundtrack of the Rede Globo telenovela "Cuca Legal", boosting the work's popularity.
Legacy
Driven by the success of the song "Linha do Horizonte", which was a telenovela theme, the album Azimüth achieved good sales in Brazil. The group's innovative and unique style, evidenced in this release, caught the attention of Claude Nobs, director of the Montreux Jazz Festival. This recognition resulted in an invitation for Azymuth to perform at the 1977 edition of the festival, marking the first time a Brazilian band took to the Montreux stage. The positive repercussions of this international performance opened doors for an American tour with Airto Moreira and Flora Purim, culminating in a contract with Milestone Records and the beginning of a long and successful international career for the group.
Tracks
Credits
Azymuth
Marcio Lott
João América
Alex Malheiros
José Roberto Bertrami
Ariovaldo Contesini
Ivan Conti
João América
Borrachinha, Jairo Gualberto, Zé Guilherme
Ary Carvalhaes, Luigi Hoffer, Luis Cláudio Coutinho
Flavio D'Alincourt
Videos
AZIMUTH, A INCRÍVEL ESTREIA DO AZYMUTH | SOM DOIS | ALBUM REVIEW
Som de Peso
Books
Analyses
NOIZE Record Club apresenta "Azimüth" (1975), de Azymuth
noize.com.br
The LP Azimüth marks the band's debut with their own original work. Featuring a sound that is innovative even by today's standards, the group promoted a dialogue between Brazilian rhythms, especially samba, with jazz, funk and rock.
BBC - Music - Review of Azymuth - Azimüth
bbc.co.uk
Disc one is the original album, and is a mix of up-tempo jazz funk freak-out and loungy mellow grooves, all with a distinctive Brazilian swing and a few healthy injections of psychedelia.
Jornal da Unesp | Azymuth: um jazz regado a ritmos brasileiros que ...
jornal.unesp.br
Released in 1975 by Som Livre, the self-titled album won over audiences and critics with iconic tracks such as Linha do Horizonte, Manhã and Faça de Conta.
Azimüth - 1975 - Woodstock Sound
woodstocksound.wordpress.com
Azymuth is a Brazilian trio with diverse influences. Their music is a 'fusion' with a strong personality. Founded in 1970 in Rio de Janeiro.
