DL 74921 STEREO

• DL74921 DEC C A STE llE D R A L MENDEZ And LAURINDO ALMEIDA together

RAFAEL LAURIN DO MENDEZ ALMEIDA Ever hear of Jascha Heifetz the Mendez of the Violin, Laurinda Almeida Rafael Mendez Laurindo Almeida is the complete musician. One of the or Artur Rubinstein of the piano? Presumptuous? Not at world's several truly great concert guitarists, he is ever aU, when you consider that many thousand serious students being compared to Segovia, whom he knows and respects. of brass would suddenly see these eminent artists through In past years, he has played dozens of concerts, performing the colorful aura created by R afael M ndez. It is our the works of the masters. Yet he toured much of the world observation that Mendez has worked harder and longer to The acclaim given to Rafael Mendez, the trumpeter and Laurinda as featured soloist with the Modern Quartet. Almeida, the guitarist as soloists most certainly poses an interest- improve his tonal quality and to perfect his technique than He brought Bossa Nova to the U.S. long before it was any of the many good musicians we have known. Mendez ing theory- that the two most popular solo instruments in our con- called that; he has scored many films, often composing, has scaled that torturous, rugged trail to the top, mainly temporary musical scene are the trumpet and the guitar. A most then playing his own music; and his famed recordings because of his uncompromising wiU to excel, unus ual fact is that these instruments have never been used in include· everything from Bach to a beautiful solo album of and with the most devoted love to his art duet form. The inspiration that brought Mendez and Al mei da to- Broadway favorites. Each of these things he has done it has been our proclivity to observe. gether on this record is indeed a musical coup and a first in re- superbly, for he is unique among guitarists, and is so He was born in the Mexican village of Jiquilpan, which is acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. about 300 miles west of Mexico City on the road to cording history. Only one of the numbers was composed expressly Almeida was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 2, Guadalajara. When Rafael was ten years old, bandit for the trumpet and guitar; the very beautiful and modern "Bossa 1917. He received his earliest musical training from his chieftains roamed Mexico. Soon the famous bandit Pancho Romantica," written by Radanies Gnattalli especially for this album. mother, a concert pianist, who had chosen her own Villa visited Jiquilpan. After he heard the Mendez family The remainder is a compilation of songs, flute and guitar duets and instrument for her son. His sister Maria was the guitar play, he wanted them as his own personal orchestra. orchestral compos itions , selected and adapted by Mendez and student, but it was Laurindo instead who mastered and fell For three months Rafael and his brothers and sisters Almeida . in love with it. traveled with Pancho Villa, but then Senor Mendez received From Laurindo's lovely du~ ~ arrangements of Maurice Ravel's It soon became evident that when Laurindo played guitar, permission to return to his village. He was allowed to take "Piece En Forme De Habanera" and the modern "Carinhoso," to others loved it as much as he did. This led to concerts in all his children save one, ten year old Rafael. Rafael 's own compositions and arrangements of " Bambuco," " Ro- his home city, then in Rio de Janeiro, where his fame began After traveling with Villa six months, Rafael returned manza" and "Lullaby," the complete artistry of the two musicians to spread. home. The bandit chief sent along three bodyguards to is evident in this collection of most unusual duets . Coming to Hollywood, he worked for a while in films, and make sure no harm came to the boy. Young R afael went Decca Records is very proud to bring you Rafael Mendez, trum- as a concert soloist with violin ist Elizabeth Waldo. Then his on to Hollywood to become recognized as the world's peter extraordinary and Laurinda Almeida, the magnificent guitar- interest in the things that were happening in American jazz leading trumpet player. ist-TOGETHER. led him to and a new career. At the start of World War II, we were visiting Dr. Herbert L. Today the Almeidas make their home in Sherman Oaks, Clarke in Long Beach, California. He had long been Side One California. Theirs is a beautiful house with bold, Brazilian our idol as the peer of cornet virtuosos. After reminiscing interiors, two French Poodles and a rich garden. Long 1. PIECE EN FORME DE HABANERA (2:45) Maurice Ravel citizens of the U.S., they still see much of the world, for about his personal triumphs with the Sousa band, and 2. BAMBUCO (3:08) Arranged By Rafael Mendez discussing the comparative abilities of Bohimur Kry!, concert demands come from everywhere. 3. CARINHOSO (2:34) C. A. Vianna-Joao De Barro-Pedro Berrios Herman Bellstedt, Frank Simon and other giants of musical 4. ENTR' ACTE (3:34) But there is plenty of work for Laurindo Almeida close to history, Dr. Clarke said: "Have you ever heard the little Ja cq ue lbert 5. BOSSA ROMAN TI CA (4:41) Radames Gnattalli home-the nearby Hollywood Bowl; the network television Mexican guy named Mendez?" Then he said something studios, where he may appear as a guest artist or writer- that startled me. "Such precision, such range, such velocity, performer for a dramatic show. Here too are most of the and his superb breath control wi ll make the world forget Side Two major film studios, where Laurindo is composing and all the rest of us ." Dr. Clarke's prophecy for Rafael 1. MALAGUENA SALEROSA (4:33) Arranged By Rafael Mendez playing much of the time. Mendez was accurate, except for the small item of 2. SICILIENNE (3:50) Gabriel Faur~ - Arran ge d by forgetting. Mendez too had an idol to remember. His idol Laurindo Almeida was a man named Herbert L. Clarke. 3. ROMANZA (3:50) Arranged By Rafael Mendez 4. SEVILLA (3:47) I. Albeniz-Arranged By Rafa el Mendez 5. LULLABY (3:38) Arranged By Rafael Mendez

Trumpet And G uitar Duets PRODUCED BY CHARLES "BUD" DANT ALL SELECTIONS ASCAP LAURINDO ALMEIDA appears through the courtesy of .

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