99 Hermeto stories - 11

Jovino and Hermeto backstage at the Blue Note, NYC, 1991. Photo by Tim Geaney.

In March 1991, Hermeto Pascoal was invited to play for a week at the Blue Note in New York City. He asked me to join him. On the same bill was the duo of Egberto Gismonti and Nando Carneiro. I had been in Hermeto’s Grupo since 1977, but this was the very first time we played as a duo.

Hermeto and I shared a room at the legendary Chelsea Hotel and enjoyed playing together every night. Our gigs drew a lot of folks to hear us, including Cecil Taylor (he came to every show), Eliane Elias, Sergio Mendes and more.

For me, it was a wonderful experience getting to play one-on-one with my mentor and teacher.

We played some compositions that were written for the Grupo, but I got to play some of Hermeto’s pieces for solo piano. In 1980 Hermeto composed Ferragens (Hardware), a solo piano piece based on the sounds of iron that reminded him of when he was a child playing in his grandfather’s blacksmith shop. Below is an exclusive audience recording from one of our shows at the Blue Note, where I play Hermeto’s piece Ferragens. Hermeto describes the piece, and I translate his words before playing it:

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Jovino and Hermeto backstage at the Blue Note, NYC, 1991. Photo by Tim Geaney.

During these shows I played piano, and Hermeto played the DX-7 and a tea kettle besides the piano.

Hermeto backstage at the Blue Note, NYC, 1991. Photo by Tim Geaney.

Our friend Tim Geaney came to the Blue Note and made these beautiful black and white shots of our duo.

Jovino and Hermeto onstage at the Blue Note, NYC, 1991. Photo by Tim Geaney.

Hermeto making music with a beer bottle backstage at the Blue Note, NYC, 1991. Photo by Tim Geaney.

Blue Note NYC dressing room, 1991.Photo by Tim Geaney.

As a special treat for my paid subscribers, I will share some exclusive audio recorded during one of our duo concerts at the Blue Note.

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