Grupo Um

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Genres

instrumental music, jazz fusion, avant-garde

Instruments

drums, percussion, piano, keyboards, double bass

Biography

Grupo Um was a prominent Brazilian instrumental music ensemble founded in 1976 by brothers Lelo Nazário and Zé Eduardo Nazário, who at the time were part of the rhythm section of renowned maestro Hermeto Pascoal. Building on this solid foundation, the original quintet — completed by Zeca Assumpção, Mauro Senise and Carlinhos Gonçalves — developed a unique and innovative sound, incorporating elements of electronic and electroacoustic music that set their aesthetic apart from that of their former mentor.

Throughout their journey in the 1970s and 1980s, the group's lineup featured the collaboration of several talented musicians, such as Rodolfo Stroeter, Felix Wagner, Teco Cardoso and Marcio Montarroyos, resulting in striking albums like "Marcha Sobre a Cidade" (1979), "Reflexão Sobre a Crise do Desejo" (1981) and "Flor de Plástico Incinerada" (1982). The ensemble established itself as a milestone of Brazilian instrumental avant-garde, with a strong dialogue with the contemporary scene where names like Egberto Gismonti and Paulo Moura also shone.

Although the Nazário brothers later turned their attention to solo careers and side projects, Grupo Um's legacy remained alive. Decades later, the group's classic works were reissued by the Editio Princeps label, also culminating in the release of the live album "Uma Lenda" in 2016, reaffirming the band's historical importance in the evolution of instrumental music in Brazil.

Discography

• Marcha Sobre A Cidade (1979)
• Reflexões Sobre a Crise do Desejo.../ (1981)
• A Flor de Plastico Incinerada (1983)
• Uma Lenda Ao Vivo (2016)
• Starting Point (2023)
• Nineteen Seventy Seven (2026)