Octeto De César Camargo Mariano (1967)

Samba meets hard bop on this Brazilian jazz classic.

Cesar shows his appreciation for the music of Art Blakey and Clifford Brown on some hard swinging original pieces. Elswhere the group tackles the loungy music of Mancini as well as blues, bossa and ballads.


Mariano was born in São Paulo. In June 1957 the American trombone player Melba Liston invited thirteen-year-old Cesar to participate in her concert at a jazz club in Rio de Janeiro.

In the early 1960s, a teenage Cesar became famous for his ability to swing and for his now-legendary left hand. His ensembles of that era, notably Sambalanço Trio and Som Três, are regarded as high points in Brazilian jazz. Cesar's collaborations with some of Brazil's most important singers like Wilson Simonal, Maria Bethania, Chico Buarque and especially Elis Regina, have brought him worldwide acclaim; the historic 1973 album Elis e Tom, made with Antônio Carlos Jobim, features Cesar as producer, pianist, and musical director. (wikipedia)


Mariano uses the rhythm sections of his trios, Humberto Clayber and Airto Moreira from Sambalanço Trio and Sabá and Toninho Pinheiro from Som Três, for this album, too. Albeit here, the trio is augmented by brass, reeds and guitar. And despite the short running time of the tunes, some really nice solos are heard.

The sound of this vinyl reissue from the 1980s isn't the best, unfortunately. The reeds tend to sound muddy, the guitar is hardly audible at all etc. It's doubtful first generation tapes where used for these pressings. This shouldn't cloud your enjoyment of the music, it may just make you look out for the long oop cd reissue.

César Camargo Mariano: Octeto De César Camargo Mariano
RGE 320.6022, Brazil, 1967
This reissue: 1989

A1 Samblues (César Camargo Mariano) 2:16
A2 Sambinha (César Camargo Mariano, Humberto Clayber) 2:26
A3 Margarida B. (César Camargo Mariano) 3:03
A4 Desafinado (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Newton Mendonça) 4:09
A5 Champagne And Quail (Henry Mancini) 3:16

B1 Barra Limpa (César Camargo Mariano) 1:25
B2 Vem (Luiz Fernando Freire, Marcos Valle) 1:29
B3 Pra Machucar Meu Coração (Ari Barroso) 3:23
B4 Blues For Mancini (César Camargo Mariano) 3:02
B5 Menina Flor (Luiz Bonfá, Maria Helena Toledo) 2:18
B6 Triste Amor Impossivel (Carlos Paraná, Walter Santos) 3:18

Personnel for tracks A1 to A3, B4, B6:
Cesar Camargo Mariano (p), Benedito Pereira dos Santos (Ditinho) (tb), Bolão (Isidoro Longano) (ts), Geraldo Auriani (Felpudo), Maguinho (Magno de Alcântara) (tp), Boneca (g), Humberto Clayber (b), Airto Moreira (d)

Personnel for tracks A4, A5, B1 to B3, B5:
Cesar Camargo Mariano (p), Benedito Pereira dos Santos (Ditinho) (tb), Bolão (Isidoro Longano) (ts), Dorival Auriani (Buda), Geraldo Auriani (Felpudo) (tp), Sabá (Sebastião Oliveira da Paz) (b), Toninho Pinheiro (Antônio Pinheiro Filho) (d)