Wilson das Neves

Wilson das Neves (Born June 14 1936, Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian musician known notably for his percussion playing. He is a key figure in the history of Brazilian music having played with many of Brazil's greatest musicians across many decades and featured on numerous important recordings.

History

Das Neves grew up in Rio de Janeiro in the 1940s and by the age of 14 was already learning his trade as a percussionist under the guidance of Edgar Nunes Rocca. He also studied under the guidance of Joaquim Naegele, Darcy Barbosa and Moacir Santos. At the age of 21 he went on tour with Orquestra de Permínio Gonçalves and in 1959 he played with the Conjunto Ubirajara Silva. In 1962 he got a place on National Radio where he stayed for a year before being offered to play with the Orquestra Sinfônica do Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, with whom he stayed until 1964. He then worked for the TV stations, spending time at Continental, Excelsior, Globo and Tupi. He also contributed to recordings by Astor Silva and the Conjunto Ed Lincoln.

In 1964 Wilson das Neves recorded with Os Ipanemas, a band consisting of Astor Silva (trombone) Marinho (bass) Wilson das Neves (drums) Rubens Bassini (percussion) and Neco (guitar). They released only one album in the 1960s, the now cult Os Ipanemas, released in 1964, a mix of Bossanova, Brazilian samba, African rhythms and Jazz.

During his career das Neves worked with many great international artists including Sarah Vaughan, Toots Thilemans, Sy Oliver and Michel Legrand. In Brazil he played with key musicians from the MPB movement such as Roberto Carlos, Chico Buarque, Eumir Deodato, Elizeth Cardoso, Clara Nunes, Elza Soares, Elis Regina, Alcione and Beth Carvalho. He also appeared alongside Copinha at the Monte Carlo Casino.

Wilson das Neves released his first album in 1968 Juventude 2000 and went on to record Som Quente É o Das Neves (1969 and 1976), Samba-Tropi - Até aí Morreu Neves (1970) and his first real solo album O Som Sagrado de Wilson das Neves (1997).

Modern Day

Wilson das Neves recently appeared as a member of the 19 piece Gafieira Orquestra, Orquestra Imperial playing on their 2006 album Carnaval Só Ano que Vem. He is currently playing with his former band Os Ipanemas. The band reformed in 2001 with the some of the original line up and released three albums on London based Far Out Recordings The Return of The Ipanemas followed by 2003's Afro Bossa and Samba Is Our Gift (O Samba É Nosso Dom) in 2006 with another album planned for 2008. The band are also set to tour the UK for the first time in April 2008.

External links

• Biscoito Fino
• Acari Records
• Wilson das Neves Discogs entry
• The Ipanemas Discogs entry
• Far Out Recordings

References