Antonio Adolfo

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1963

Genres

bossa nova, jazz, MPB, soul

Instruments

piano, keyboards

Biography

Antonio Adolfo Maurity Sabóia, born in Rio de Janeiro on February 10, 1947, is a renowned Brazilian pianist, keyboardist and composer. The son of a violinist in the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Theater Orchestra, he began his musical studies in childhood and, by age 16, was already moving through Rio's bossa nova and jazz circles. In 1964, he formed Trio 3-D to participate in the musical "Pobre Menina Rica", by Vinicius de Moraes and Carlos Lyra, cementing his presence in the musical scene of the era.

Throughout his career, Antonio Adolfo stood out both as a composer of hits in festivals and as an arranger and partner to major names in Brazilian music. In partnership with Tibério Gaspar, he composed highly successful tracks such as "Sá Marina" and "BR-3", the latter winning the National Phase of the 5th International Song Festival interpreted by Tony Tornado. He also worked with fundamental artists such as Maysa and Elis Regina, with whom he toured Europe, in addition to releasing the pioneering independent album "Feito em Casa" in 1977.

In the following decades, the musician expanded his work into education and the international scene, founding the Antonio Adolfo Music Center and releasing various instructional materials. Established in Latin jazz, he has received multiple Latin Grammy nominations for works such as "Tropical Infinito", "Hybrido/From Rio to Wayne Shorter" and "Bruma: Celebrating Milton Nascimento". Furthermore, he frequently collaborates with his daughter, singer Carol Saboya, maintaining an active career as a performer in shows throughout Brazil and abroad.

Discography

• Antonio Adolfo & A Brazuca (1969)
• Antonio Adolfo & A Brazuca (1971)
• Antonio Adolfo (1972)
• Feito em Casa (1977)
• Encontro Musical (1978)
• Viralata (1979)
• Continuidade (1980)
• Antonio Adolfo Abraça Ernesto Nazareth – Os Pianeiros (1981)
• Antonio Adolfo, Nó em Pingo D'Água – João Pernambuco (1983)
• Antonio Adolfo e a Turma de Astro-Folias – Astro-Folias (1984)
• Viva Chiquinha Gonzaga - Antônio Adolfo Abraça Chiquinha Gonzaga (1985)
• Antonio Adolfo, Aloysio de Alencar Pinto, Carolina Cardoso de Menezes – Os Pianeiros (1986)
• Conexões (1987)
• Cristalino (1989)
• Jinga (1990)
• Chiquinha com Jazz (1997)
• Puro Improviso (1998)
• Carnaval Piano Blues (2006)
• Antonio Adolfo, Brazil (2) And Brazuka – Destiny (2007)
• Antonio Adolfo e Carol Saboya – Ao Vivo Live (2007)
• Antonio Adolfo e Carol Saboya – Lá e Cá Here And There (2010)
• Chora Baião (2011)
• Destiny (Brazil and Brazuka) (2012)
• Finas Misturas (2013)
• Rio, Choro, Jazz... (2014)
• O Piano de Antonio Adolfo (2014)
• Carol Saboya, Antonio Adolfo, Hendrik Meurkens – Copa Village (2015)
• Tema (2015)
• Tropical Infinito (2016)
• Hybrido: From Rio To Wayne Shorter (2017)
• Encontros (2018)
• Samba Jazz Alley (2019)
• Antonio Adolfo & Leila Pinheiro – Vamos Partir pro Mundo - A Música de Antonio Adolfo e Tibério Gaspar (2020)
• BruMa Celebrating Milton Nascimento (2020)
• Jobim Forever (2021)
• Marlene, Antonio Adolfo & Wanda Sá - Ao Vivo - 1981 (2022)
• Bossa 65 - Celebrating Carlos Lyra And Roberto Menescal (2023)
• Love Cole Porter (2024)
• Antonio Adolfo E Renato Teixeira – Combinados (2025)
• Carnaval - The Songs Were So Beautiful (2025)
• Balaios (2026)
• Passa, Passa, Passará
• Octet And Originals