Antonio Adolfo was a Brazilian keyboard player and arranger who was born in Rio de Janeiro on February 10, 1947. Adolfo is an arranger and keyboard player. He is one of the most important Brazilian talents of his generation. Adolfo has a contemporary sound. He mixes jazz, MPB and baroque orchestrations. His easy scoring and funk are similar to the best of the Blue Brazil generation on EMI/Odeon Records. Collectors are very interested in Adolfo records. Antonio Adolfo grew up in a musical family in Rio de Janeiro. Yolanda Mauity, a violinist and music teacher at the Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, was his father. He began violin lessons with Paulina Da’Ambrozzio at seven years old. At fifteen, he learned piano from Ayrton Vallim. By seventeen, he was a professional musician. He has recorded 25 albums under his own name and has collaborated with many of Brazil’s most prominent musicians. He led his own band and toured with Milton Nascimento and Elis Regina during the 1960’s. Adolfo’s tunes were a huge success. They have been recorded by Stevie Wonder and Earl Klugh as well as Dionne Warwick and other artists such as Dionne Warwick and Dionne Wonder. He joined the Samba Cinco group in 1963. They performed at the 52nd Street Beco das Garapas. Carlos Lyra, Vinicius de Morais invited Adolfo to play the role of musician in their play Pobre Menina Rica at Teatro de Bolso. Adolfo founded the 3-D group for that gig and performed with it until 1968. He also recorded four albums. Adolfo was with Elis Regina on her European tour in 1969. He returned to Brazil in 1969, where he composed music for soap operas. After leaving Elis’s band, he formed his own group and toured Brazil. He also recorded two popular and highly acclaimed albums under the name “Brazuka”. These records are considered cults, and all lyrics were written by Tiberio Gaspar. Adolfo emigrated to the United States in 1971. Jerry Shayne Music, Inc. hired him. He returned to Brazil in 1972 and started writing on his own while recording Antonio Adolfo, (Philips). After many albums were arranged for other artists, and while still touring with Brazuka’s band, Antonio started his own label ‘Artezanal.’ The first album, ‘Feito em Casa’ was the first to be released. He also continued to release many masterpieces on the label. He was part of the first Carioca experience teaching jazz/popular music in the Centro Calouste Gulbenkian in 1985, along with Pascoal Meirelles and Helio Delmiro. He started his own school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Adolfo has published music education material both in Brazil and abroad. He also produced the video ‘Secrets of Brazilian Music,’ as well as seven books through Luminar Publishing. He was awarded the Premio Sharp Award in 1996 for his instrumental composition, “Cristalina”, from his 1993 album ‘Cristalino. He also released ‘Chiquinha com Jazz (Artezanal), and ‘Antonio Adolfo, which were both awarded the Premio Sharp. Far Out Recordings released his 2007 album, ‘Destiny. Far Out Recordings’ collaboration was special because he teamed up with Tiberio Gaspar, his old partner and lyricist. It also featured a production with Joe Davis and David Brinkworth. Antonio Adolfo currently works in Rio de Janeiro and Hollywood music schools. He also teaches Brazilian Music, Jazz and Pop with other instructors. bio by www.faroutrecordings.com
