The harmonica player from Rio de Janeiro, Maurício Einhorn, who turns 90 years old this Sunday (29), and bassist, guitarist and composer Thiago Espirito Santo, 42, have just released, in digital format, by Selo Sesc, the album affinitieswhich is already on the main streaming platforms (audio and video transmission over the internet) and also free of charge on Sesc Digital (sescsp.org.br/selosesc facebook.com/selosesc twitter.com/selosesc youtube.com/selosesc sescsp .org.br/zumbido).
The album marks the admiration between Maurício Einhorn and Thiago Espirito Santo, two of the most renowned musicians in Brazil, belonging to different generations. Recorded in September 2021, the work brings together 12 unpublished compositions, ten by Einhorn (eight in partnership with Alberto Araújo, one with Arnaldo Costa and another with Alberto Chimelli and Claudete Santos) and two by Espírito Santo.
In affinities, the two artists are inspired by musical masters of the 1960s, such as Tom Jobim, Luiz Bonfá and João Gilberto. The record is a meeting of great improvisers, endowed with a gift for the interpretative expansion of harmonically fertile works, and they play with visible pleasure. “Both, Thiago and Mauricio, developed such special relationships with their instruments, that the electric bass and the harmonica became an extension of their bodies. As happened with Charlie Parker and Sonny Rollins, for example”, pointed out journalist and music critic Arnaldo. DeSouteiro, who signs the album’s presentation text.
Admiration
Thiago has always been a great admirer of Mauricio Einhorn. His parents, Arismar do Espírito Santo, multi-instrumentalist and composer, and Silvia Goes, pianist and composer, lived with the harmonica player, including on stage, and presented their work to their son when he was little. In 2019, Thiago Espírito Santo invited Einhorn to participate with his group in a series of ‘shows’.
“At the end of one of them, he gave me several scores”, said the guitarist. “Soon I decided to register that precious material. I went to Rio de Janeiro to choose and study the songs with him. These were very special days, because I’ve always been a fan of Maurício. I went back to São Paulo, made the arrangements and finally recorded it”. And he concluded: “It is an honor to work with Mauricio, I am a big fan”. Einhorn has more than 400 songs in his repertoire.
The recordings of affinities they had the band led by Thiag and integrated by Bruno Cardozo, acoustic piano with the addition of Fender Rhodes in three tracks; Cuca Teixeira, drums; and Jota P., alternating between tenor sax and flute in three tracks. “It’s an honor to work with Mauricio, I’m a big fan”, assured Thiago.
Sesc Seal
The Sesc Seal was created 18 years ago and aims to record the breadth of Brazilian artistic production by building a collection punctuated by works of various styles, periods and languages. This year, the label also released the album “Toda Semana: Música e Literatura na Semana de Arte Moderna” (Vários Artistas), with an overview of the sound, poetic and musical ambience of the Semana de 22, in addition to the digital albums Flame, by percussionist Paulo Santos; and millennium flowerby Jaques Morelenbaum CelloSam3aTrio.
