Mário Albanese

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years active

1959

Genres

mpb, jazz, bossa nova

Instruments

piano

Biography

Mário Albanese is a Brazilian pianist, composer, music teacher, radio broadcaster, lawyer, and journalist, born in São Paulo on October 31, 1931. His musical career is marked by the creation in 1965, alongside maestro Cyro Pereira, of "Jequibau", a Brazilian rhythm in 5/4 time. This rhythmic innovation resulted in several compositions by the duo, such as "Jequibau", "No Balanço do Jequi-Bach", and "Maré Alta", which were recorded by various artists in Brazil and abroad. Albanese also worked as an artistic director for record labels and hosted radio and television programs.

His musical training began with his mother, Clara Petrillo Albanese, and continued at the Dramatic and Musical Conservatory of São Paulo, where he studied with renowned teachers. In addition to his work in music, Mário Albanese holds degrees in law and journalism, having maintained columns in various publications and worked in radio and TV programs. His versatility led him to explore different facets of communication and art, always with a careful eye on musicians' copyrights.

The Jequibau rhythm, created by Albanese and Pereira, gained international recognition, being performed by artists such as Andy Williams and Sadao Watanabe, and released in markets such as the North American and French ones. The importance of this rhythm was such that the City Council of São Paulo officialized "Jequibau Day" on August 9. The work of Mário Albanese, which includes several LPs and compositions recorded by renowned Brazilian artists like Agnaldo Rayol and Eliana Pittman, solidifies his place in the history of Brazilian music.