Os Modernistas

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years Active

1962

Genres

jazz, bossa nova, MPB

Instruments

saxophone, bass, drums, guitar, percussion, piano

Biography

Os Modernistas was a Brazilian musical group that emerged on the music scene in the early 1960s, with their self-titled debut album released in 1962. The band stood out for their sound that blended elements of jazz and bossa nova, reflecting Brazil's vibrant musical environment at the time. The group's proposal was to incorporate the harmonic and rhythmic innovations that characterized modernism in the arts, applying them to Brazilian popular music.

With an instrumental lineup that included saxophone, bass, drums, guitar, percussion, and piano, Os Modernistas explored sophisticated arrangements and an instrumental approach that sought experimentation. This pursuit of new musical languages dialogued with the modernist spirit which, since the 1922 Modern Art Week, had proposed a break from traditionalism and the appreciation of national identity through an innovative perspective.

Although the group was most active during the 1960s, their work left an important mark on Brazilian discography, especially regarding the fusion of genres and the exploration of instrumental arrangements. The sound of Os Modernistas can be associated with other artists and groups who also moved between jazz and bossa nova, seeking musical sophistication and a contemporary Brazilian identity.

Discography

• Os Modernistas (1962)
• Baile Moderno (1964)
• The Waiting Room