Antonio Adolfo
Brazilian Music / Jazz Piano
Pianist, arranger, producer and educator Antonio Adolfo grew up in a musical family in Rio de Janeiro (his mother was a violinist in the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra), and began his studies at the age of seven. At seventeen he was already a professional musician. His teachers include Eumir Deodato and the great Nadia Boulanger in Paris.
During the 60’s he led his own trio that participated in several Bossa Nova and Jazz shows in Brazil and toured with singers Leny Andrade, Carlos Lyra, Flora Purim, Wilson Simonal, Elis Regina and Milton Nascimento. Adolfo wrote tunes such as Pretty World (original Brazilian title: Sa Marina) that gained great success and have been recorded by such artists as Sergio Mendes, Stevie Wonder, Herb Alpert, Earl Klugh, Dionne Warwick, and others. He won International Song Contests (Rio – Brazil and Athens – Greece) on two occasions.
As a musician, arranger and record producer he has worked with some of the most representative Brazilian names, besides having released more than 25 albums under his name. As an educator, he has been teaching music, specially Brazilian music, throughout the world and has written several books (see list in the Educator’s section of this website).
In 1985 Mr. Adolfo created his own school in Rio, Brazil, now with more than 1,300 students. His 2010 CD album, Lá e Cá/Here and There, follows the footsteps of 2007 live recording Antonio Adolfo e Carol Saboya Ao Vivo/ Live. In 2011 his CD Chora Baiao was released and became awarded. Antonio Adolfo’s recent CD “Finas Misturas”/Fine Mixtures has been acclaimed with great reviews and Jazz radio airplay.
His recent releases, CD Rio, Choro, Jazz…, as well as his piano solo album O Piano de Antonio Adolfo were nominated for the 2014 LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS. In 2015, Adolfo had released a CD recorded in New York and Rio, with singer Carol Saboya and harmonicist/vibraphonist Hendrik Meurkes entitled Copa Village and now, the brand new CD Tema, with only original compositions by him.
Performances and/or clinics
1968 – with Elis Regina – Olimpia (Paris, France)
1969 – with Elis Regina – Europe
1969 – Tour with his group (Lima, Peru)
1970 – several important performances with his group Brazuca in Brazil
1972 – Tour solo piano in Brazil
1978 – Projeto Pixinguinha Tour in Brazil
1979 – Projeto Pixinguinha Tour in Brazil
1987 – Free Jazz Festival (Rio, Brazil)
1988 – Free Jazz Festival (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
1989 and 1990 – several appearances in Los Angeles (Vine Street Bar & Grill, The Jazz Bakery, and many more)
1996 – IASJ in New York, US
1998 – IAJE, Atlanta, US
1999 – IASJ, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2005 – IAJE, Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim, Long Beach,US
2006 – IAJE, New York, US
2007 – Lincoln Center Out Of Doors, New York, US
2009 – Lincoln Center Out Of Doors, New York, US
2009 – South Florida Jazz (with Carol Saboya). Plantation, FL
2012 – South Florida Jazz (with Carol Saboya). Plantation, FL
2012 – St. Petersburg Jazz Festival, Florida, US
2013 – NYC: Jazz at Kitano, Zinc Bar. Florida: Jazziz Nightlife, Arts Garage. Brazil (Rio) Miranda, (Sao Paulo) Itau Cultural, (Belo Horizonte) Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil – Project name: Ernesto Nazareth 150 Anos, (Sao Paulo) SESC Instrumental.
2014 – St. Petersburg Jazz Festival
2015 – Show Arts Garage (DelRay Beach) and at the JEN Conference in SanDiego, with singer Carol Saboya.
2015 – Master classes and shows at the Broward College (FL), promoted by the Brazilian Music Institute, from Gainesville, FL. Show in Gainesville Florida
2015 – Show with harmonicist Hendrik Meurkens at The Triple Door, in Seatle, WA.
Awards
1969 – Rio’s International Song Contest – 2nd prize
1970 – Rio’s International Song Contest – 1st prize
1970 – International Song Olympiad (Athens, Greece) 2nd prize
1981 – Playboy Annual Brazilian Jazz Award
1989 – Brahma Extra Award – Best musicians from Brazil
1996 – Sharp Award (Brazil) – Best instrumental Composition
1998 – Sharp Award (Brazil) – Best Instrumental Arranger
2007 – International Brazilian Press Award – Best CD of Brazilian artist released in the US
2008 – Rival BR Award – honored
2009 – International Brazilian Press Award – contribution for education in the US
2011 – Latin Jazz Corner – Best Latin Jazz album, Best Brazilian Jazz album and Best pianist.
2013 – Brazilian International Press Award – for best show: (Antonio Adolfo & Carol Saboya) in 2012.
2014 – Brazilian International Press Award – for best show:(The Antonio Adolfo and Hendrik Meurkens Quartet) in 2013
2014 – Two albums nominated for the Latin Grammy Award.
Discography
1964 – Antonio Adolfo and Trio 3-D (RCA/EMI)
1965 – Antonio Adolfo and Trio 3-D Convida (RCA/EMI)
1967 – Conjunto 3-D (COpacabana/EMI)
1969 – Antonio Adolfo e a Brazuca (EMI)
1970 – Antonio Adolfo e a Brazuca (EMI)
1977 – Feito em Casa (Artezanal)
1978 – Encontro Musical (Artezanal)
1979 – Viralata (Artezanal)
1980 – Continuidade (Artezanal)
1981 – Os Pianeiros (Artezanal)
1982 – Joao Pernambuco 100 anos
1988 – Cristalino (Som Livre)
1995 – Antonio Adolfo (Artezanal)
1997 – Chiquinha Com Jazz (Artezanal)
1999 – Puro Improviso (Artezanal)
2005 – Carnaval Piano Blues (Artezanal)
2007 – Antonio Adolfo & Carol Saboya Ao Vivo/Live (AAM Music)
2010 – Antonio Adolfo & Carol Saboya La e Ca/Here and There (AAM Music)
2011 – Chora Baiao (AAM Music)
2013 – Finas Misturas (AAM Music)
2014 – Rio Choro Jazz (AAM Music)
2014 – O Piano de Antonio Adolfo (Deck Discos)
2015 – Copa Village (with Carol Saboya and Hendrik Meurkens)
2015 – CD TEMA (AAM Music) – available from June 15th.