Jovino Santos neto, a pianist, keyboardist and flutist from Rio de Janeiro, has helped to blur the lines between jazz and classical music. Neto was a member of Hermeto Pascoal’s band from 1977-1992. He continued to develop his world music-influenced vocabulary. From 1993 to 1997, he grew his Brazilian music knowledge through stints with Sergio Mendes and Airto Moreira in 1992. He recorded many albums with Gary Stroutsos including the Native American-influenced People of the Willows. He toured Europe in 1994 with Swiss cellist David Pezzoti. Neto’s 1997 solo album Caboclo featured the accompaniment of his quartet members Hans Teuber, bassist Chuck Deardorf and Mark Ivester. This was followed in 2000 by Ao Vivo em Olympia. Neto stated that he believes in the power and potential of music as a means to transform people in a late-’90s interview. “With each note I play or write, I envision how it will touch someone and that energy will return to me to inspire and play more. As a musician, I view myself as a link in the chain that began a long time ago. It is my mission to keep that chain moving and evolving. Neto began studying classical piano at the age of 12 and moved on to pop music that was influenced by the Beatles and Rolling Stones by the time he turned 15. Lake was exposed to bands like Emerson and Yes, but not as much.
