Orquestra Pan American

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1927–1930

Genres

samba, maxixe, fox-trot, brazilian toada, marcha, choro

Instruments

violin, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, piano, tuba, banjo, drums

Biography

The Orquestra Pan American was a highly relevant Brazilian musical ensemble in the 1920s and early 1930s. Founded around 1927, the orchestra was led by the conductor, arranger, and violinist Simon Bountman. Their work was fundamental for the recording and dissemination of various musical genres of the era, especially on the Odeon label.

Composed of talented musicians such as I. Kolman (saxophone and clarinet), Júlio Sammamede (saxophone), D. Guimarães (trumpet), Caldeira Ramos (trombone), J. Rondon (piano), Amaro dos Santos (tuba), Dermeval Neto (banjo), and Aristides Prazeres (drums), the Orquestra Pan American accompanied countless artists in their recordings. Between 1927 and 1930, the orchestra recorded around 47 songs on 36 records, consolidating its presence in the Brazilian musical scene.

The discography of the Orquestra Pan American includes recordings of fox-trots, Brazilian toadas, maxixes, and marches, demonstrating the group's versatility. In addition to its own recordings, the orchestra was responsible for accompanying iconic voices of Brazilian popular music, such as Francisco Alves and Mário Reis, contributing significantly to the richness and diversity of the phonographic production of that period. The work of the Orquestra Pan American left an important legacy for the history of music in Brazil.