Breno Sauer

Origin

São Sebastião do Caí, RS

Years Active

1950–1980

Genres

bossa nova, MPB, latin jazz, jazz

Instruments

accordion, piano, vibraphone

Biography

Breno Sauer was a notable accordionist, pianist, and vibraphonist from Rio Grande do Sul, born in São Sebastião do Caí on November 3, 1929. His musical career began in the 1950s, playing in clubs, on the radio, and on television in Rio Grande do Sul. Influenced by jazz accordionist Art Van Damme, Sauer began to develop a sophisticated sound, which led him to join Conjunto Melódico Norberto Baldauf and, later, to form his own group, the Breno Sauer Quarteto or Quinteto. His music blended Brazilian roots with jazz inspiration, making him one of the pioneers in introducing the vibraphone to Brazilian music, inspired by the Modern Jazz Quartet.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Breno Sauer recorded a series of acclaimed LPs for labels such as CBS and Musidisc, including albums like "Viva o Samba" (1959), "Viva a Música" (1960), "Viva a Bossa" (1961), and "Viva o Ritmo" (1962). These works are considered milestones in MPB and bossa nova, presenting a "new sound for samba" with modern arrangements. His unique and danceable sound established his reputation in nightclubs and on radio and TV programs, both in Brazil and abroad.

In 1967, Breno Sauer moved to Mexico, where he stayed for five years, continuing his musical career. In 1974, he took up residence in Chicago, in the United States, where he consolidated a successful career, leading groups such as "Made in Brasil" and "Som Brazil," and recording independent albums as well as the record "Tudo Jóia." He passed away in Niles, Illinois, on March 13, 2017, leaving an important legacy in Brazilian instrumental music and in the fusion of Brazilian rhythms with jazz.