- Conjunto Som 4 — Conjunto Som 4
(1965) Continental PPL 12194 - Raul de Barros — Brasil, Trombone
(1974) Marcus Pereira MPL 9304 - Zézinho — Zézinho e Seu Sombalanço
(1965) Chantecler CMG 2364 - Baden Powell — Ao Vivo no Teatro Santa Rosa
(1966) Elenco ME-30 - Os 7 Velhinhos — Bossa Nova
(196?) Musidisc XPL-42 - Conjunto Flamingo — Conjunto Flamingo Vol. 3
(1963) Áudio Fidelity AFLP 1996 - Lyrio Panicali — Nova Dimensão
(1965) Odeon MOFB 3445 - Aécio Flávio, Berimbau Trio, Quinteto Sambatida — Música Popular Brasileira em Expansão
(1965) Festival FLP-2 - Leny Andrade, Pery Ribeiro, Bossa Três — Gemini V – Show na Boite Porão 73
(1965) Odeon MOFB 3445 - Quarteto 004, Antônio Carlos Jobim, As Meninas — Retrato em Branco e Preto
(1968) Ritmos/Codil CDL 13011
This double-page spread from the book features Leny Andrade and Pery Ribeiro, two of the finest bossa nova singers, and one of the numerous Zézinhos.
In 1965, Leny Andrade, Pery Ribeiro and Bossa Três performed the show ‘Gemini V’, created by Ronaldo Bôscoli and Carlos Mieli with musical direction by Luiz Carlos Vinhas. It became one of the most popular anthological bossa nova shows, running one and a half years in Rio de Janeiro at the nightclub Boate Porão 73 and at Teatro Princesa Isabel. As a result of the huge success the album Gemini V – Show na Boate Porão 73 led to a trilogy of live albums by the two singers. In 1967, ‘Gemini V’ enjoyed a six-month stint at the club El Señorial in Mexico City which was documented on the album Gemini V en Mexico. In 1972, oddly enough with uncredited accompaniment and venue, Leny Andrade and Pery Ribeiro finally released Gemini Cinco Anos Depois.
Playlist Leny Andrade & Pery Ribeiro:
1. Vivo Sonhando (Antônio Carlos Jobim) from the album Gemini V – Show na Boate Porão 73 (1965)
Leny de Andrade Lima (*1943) enjoys an international career, spanning now more than five decades, as one of Brazil’s most renowned samba-jazz singers. She took classical piano lessons at the age of six, appeared in talent shows on Rio de Janeiro’s Rádio Tupi at the age of nine, and received a scholarship at the Conservatório Brasileiro de Música at eleven.
In 1958, she served as a singer for Permínio Gonçalves and his orchestra, before playing the nightclub circuit of Rio de Janeiro, performing with the trio of Sérgio Mendes amongst others. In 1961, the vigorous A Sensação became her debut album with about thirty more original albums to follow. In 1962, she became Dick Farney‘s only guest vocalist ever on an album, performing three jazz standards on Dick Farney Apresenta Sua Orquestra no Auditório de O Globo.
Backed by Tenório Jr. on piano, José Carlos ‘Zezinho’ on bass and Milton Banana on drums, she released A Arte Maior de Leny Andrade in 1964, a live recording at the nighclub Baccarat in Rio de Janeiro which finally settled her as a top-notch vocalist. The next year, the title song by Durval Ferreira and Maurício Einhorn from her striking album Estamos Aí, arranged by Eumir Deodato, gave her her biggest commercial hit.
From 1966 to 1970, Leny Andrade lived in Mexico, recording the highly notable album Leny Andrade with Breno Sauer on vibraphone, Adão Pinheiro on piano, Erneo Eger on bass, and Portinho on drums, as well as performing ‘Gemini V’ with Pery Ribeiro. In her later years, Leny Andrade spent a lot of time in USA and Europe, performing at the Birdland and numerous jazz festivals.
Although Leny Andrade has not enjoyed the commcercial success she deserves, she is critically acclaimed as one of the finest singers of samba-jazz and bossa nova. Known for her skills to improvise and scat, Tony Bennett once called her the “Ella Fitzgerald of Brazil”. Her dynamic yet subtle vocal style makes her a true musician’s singer.
Playlist Leny Andrade:
1. Banzo (Marcos Valle – Odilon Olyntho) from the album Estamos Aí (1965)
2. Samba da Bênção (Baden Powell – Vinícius de Moraes) from the album Leny Andrade (1966)
3. Meu Amor Foi Embora (Durval Ferreira) from the album A Sensação (1961)
4. Olhando o Mar (Arthur Verocai – Ronaldo Soares) from the album Estamos Aí (1965)
5. Vivo Sonhando (Antônio Carlos Jobim) from the album A Arte Maior de Leny Andrade (1964)
6. O Amor Que Acabou (Chico Feitosa – Luis Fernando Freire) from the EP Leny Andrade & Tamba Trio (1963)
7. Não Dá Pé (Hianto de Almeida – Otávio Teixeira) from the album A Sensação (1961)
8. Samba de Rei (Pingarilho – Marcos Vasconcellos) from the album Estamos Aí (1965)
9. Estamos Aí (Durval Ferreira – Maurício Einhorn – Regina Werneck) from the album Estamos Aí (1965)
Peri de Oliveira Martins (1937-2012), better known as Pery Ribeiro, was the son of singer Dalva de Oliveira and composer/singer Herivelto Martins. At the age of three, Pery Ribeiro dubbed the voice of the Bashful Dwarf in the Brazilian version of Walt Dinsey’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, alongside his mother dubbing the main character. Also as a child, he appeared in the unfinished Orson Welles movie It’s All True.
While working as a camera operator for television, Pery Ribeiro’s musical career started in 1959 when he was invited to participate in a program on Rádio Nacional. From then on, Pery Ribeiro released several singles, which were inlcuded on his 1961 debut album Eu Gosto da Vida. The follow-up Pery Ribeiro e Seu Mundo de Canções Românticas presented the singer with solo accompaniment by Luiz Bonfá on guitar. In 1963, the album Pery É Todo Bossa introduced the very first version of Garota de Ipanema by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius des Moraes, the song which perhaps became the most popular international incarnation of bossa nova. Commercially, Garota de Ipanema became also Pery Ribeiro’s biggest hit, followed by Primavera and Giramundo in 1965.
With the success of Pery É Todo Bossa and the follow-up Pery Muito Mais Bossa, Pery Ribeiro finally established himself as a top-notch bossa nova singer. The mid-sixties in particular was a successful period with the album Pery, lushly arranged and conducted by Lyrio Panicali, the splendid EP Pery Ribeiro with the Milton Banana Trio, the success of ‘Gemini V’ alongside Leny Andrade and Bossa Três, and the album Encontro with Bossa Três. He also made some movie appearances in Brazil as well as the US, including playing opposite Richard Widmark in Vanish.
After the success of ‘Gemini V’ at the club El Señorial in Mexico City, Pery Ribeiro stayed abroad for another year, before following an invitation by Sérgio Mendes to the United States. There, after a successful solo career, Pery Ribeiro became part of Sérgio Mendes’ group Bossa Rio (not to be confused with his Bossa Rio Sextet) alongside Gracinha Leporace on vocals, Manfredo Fest on piano and organ, Osmar Milito on piano, Octávio Bailly Jr. on bass, and Ronnie Mesquita on drums, releasing three albums and touring the US and Europe.
After his return to Brazil in 1971, Pery Ribeiro continued a busy schedule with a total of more than thirty albums and worldwide appearances. Pery Ribeiro is definitely one of the key vocalists of bossa nova.
Playlist Pery Ribeiro:
1. Vem (Marcos Valle – Luis Fernando Freire) from the album Pery (1965)
2. Recado ao Pé do Berço (Luis Carlos Vinhas – Ronaldo Bôscoli) from the album Encontro (1966), with Bossa Três
3. Giramundo (Luiz Carlos Sá) from the EP Pery Ribeiro (1965), with Milton Banana Trio
4. Meu Nome é Ninguém (Haroldo Barbosa – Luis Reis) from the album Pery Ribeiro e Seu Mundo de Canções Românticas (1962)
5. Garota de Ipanema (Antônio Carlos Jobim – Vinícius des Moraes) from the album Pery É Todo Bossa (1963)
6. Canto Negro (Durval Ferreira – Luis Fernando Freire) from the album Pery Muito Mais Bossa (1964)
7. Até Quando (Vadico – Marino Pinto) from the album Eu Gosto da Vida (1961)
8. Mulher Sem Alma (Nelson Cavaquinho – Guilherme de Brito) from the album Abre Alas (1974)
9. Saiupa (Por Causa de Você, Menina) (Jorge Ben) from the album Bossa Rio (1969), by Bossa Rio
The artwork for Gemini V – Show na Boate Porão 73 is by Moacyr Rocha with photographs by Mafra.
The artwork for Ao Vivo no Teatro Santa Rosa is by Eddie Moyna with photographs by Francisco Pereira and Paula Lorgus.
The artwork for Conjunto Som 4 is by Israel Sancovsky and Coliso Castejón with photographs by Hilde Passos.
Among the numerous musicians known simply as ‘Zézinho’, José Batista da Silva Júnior (1932-2010) stands out as a multi-talented pianist, arranger, conductor and vocalist. However, information is very limited, except that he started his career in the early fifties working at parties and nightclubs. Soon, he was hired by radio stations as a concert master, disc-jockey and arranger. In the mid-seventies, Zézinho became the long-lasting musical director of the TV show “Qual é a música?”, the Brazilian version of “Name That Tune”.
Playlist Zézinho:
1. Não Me Diga Adeus (Paquito – Luis Soberano – João Correia da Silva) from the album Zezinho e Seu Sombalanço (1965)
2. Melancolia (Denis Brean) from the album Zezinho e Seu Sombalanço (1965)
The artwork for Zezinho e Seu Sombalanço, excellently adapting the famous Elenco look, is by Tebaldo Simionato.
The artwork for Retrato em Branco e Preto is by Millor Fernandez.
The art work for Brasil, Trombone is by Antônio Maioral and Ernesto Cerri Neto.
Brazilliance 