Quarteto Novo only released one album, yet they number amongst one of the more influential acts in Brazilian music. Originally set up as a “Trio Novo” by a pharmaceutical company who wanted a live band at an event, they were then picked up by Geraldo Vandré (who was, at that time in 1966, the winner of a Brazilian music popularity competition) for a tour of the Brazilian northeast. After the tour, the trio – comprised of a very young Airto Moreira (percussions), composer, solo artist & soundtrack composer, producer and arranger Theo de Barros (bass and subsequent guitarist) and Heraldo do Monte (guitar) who also went on to have a fairly successful career – was joined by multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal. Recorded in 1967, this was the first album for Airto, and it was a hugely influential release – mixing the traditional music of northeast Brazil with bebop jazz and folk. Quarteto Novo emphasized northeastern Brazilian music and acoustic instrumentsforan”organic”sound.Thisfirstreissuein25yearsofthisholygrailisamustforanyloverofBrazilianjazz,sambaandfolkmusic.
