Som Imaginario

Som Imaginário was a famous Brazilian group responsible for support the singer Milton Nascimento. The group released three albums between 1970 and 1973. The band in its original lineup had Wagner Tiso (piano and keyboards), Tavito (vocals and acoustic guitars), Zé Rodrix (vocals, keyboards and flutes), Luiz Alves (bass), Robertinho Silva (drums) and Frederiko (guitars) and their two first records are more folk / psychedelic.

In 1973 the band was a quartet with: Wagner Tiso (piano and keyboards), Frederiko (guitars), Luiz Carlos (bass) and Robertinho (drums). With Wagner Tiso as a leader they were now almost instrumental and this is by far their best record. Zé Rodrix were already with his trio Sá, Rodrix & Guarabira and Tavito still participate in the album as a guest playing acoustic 12 strings guitar in 3 tracks. But it's the hands of the maestro Wagner Tiso that makes all the difference in the world in Matança Do Porco (1973). Armina and Matança Do Porco are the keytracks, Progressive pearls lost in the haze of time. This is one of the true Brazilian classics.

"Fantastic instrumental fusion from Brazil – a killer set from the combo who came from Milton Nascimento's scene, and often backed him up in the early '70s! Som Imagináhave a style that mixed the complex jazzy arranging styles of artists like Egberto Gismonti or Edu Lobo with some of the harder instrumentation of other progressive bands of the time – a post-Tropicalia style that's filled with heavy guitars, but also some more sensitive piano and keyboards too – all put together with the sense of spaciousness you might find in Milton Nascimento's music. No surprise, frequent Nascimento partner Wagner Tiso is the pianist for the group, and also wrote most of the tracks – and his soaring sensibilities really grace the album throughout. Titles include Armina, A-3, A Matanca Do Porco, Mar Azul, Bolero, and A (Nova Estrela) N° 2" - Dusty Groove