Keyboardist, composer and leader of the inimitable Brazilian trio Azymuth, Ze Roberto is known for creating the mesmerising and genre blending samba doido (crazy samba) a mix of samba, jazz, funk and rock with an infectious swing and has had a huge influence on Brazilian music through his solo projects, collaborations and session work.
One of the Brazilian greats, he is responsible for cross-pollinating Brazilian music, bossa nova, samba and folk styles, with jazz, R&B, using his unique keyboard sound, harmonics and is a true technocrat. Amongst many others, he has arranged and written with Sarah Vaughan, Elis Regina, Mark Murphy, Joe Pass, Erasmo Carlos, Jim Capaldi, Milton Nascimento, Airto, Flora Purim and his signature sound can be heard on many of the best-known Brazilian productions, like Erasmo Carlos, Mulher, Jorge Ben, Africa Braz il, the first record of Candeia and hundreds more.
During his almost five decades with Azymuth Bertrami toured the world many times, signed to Milestones Records to release the classic albums Light As A Feather and Telecommunications and had a worldwide chart hit with ‘Jazz Carnival’. Since 1994 Bertrami rekindled his career with Far Out Recordings releasing two solo albums, Things Are Different and Aventura, and ten Azymuth albums. He was also heavily involved with other projects for the label including the unreleased Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra.
Joe Davis and Far Out Recordings have lost one of their dearest friends and most talented musician who shaped the sound of the label and Brazilian music for fifty years.
"He will be sorely missed. I think he is one of the world’s musical geniuses. I have had so much fun, laughs, musical inspiration and direction from Ze. He was a big part of why we started our label and why it has lasted so long. We have toured the world and he is a person whom I have only beautiful memoires of. I feel blessed that we had spent so much time together and worked so long together. I will dearly miss him and like our Azymuth family, I am so, so sad, Brazil will never be the same. He is now in peace and his music will live forever." Joe Davis
A big thanks to everyone who supported his music throughout the years.
~ Far Out Recordings
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