Zé da Flauta

Origin

Recife, PE

Also known as

José Vasconcelos de Oliveira

Years active

1973

Genres

instrumental, frevo, psychedelia, mpb, forró

Instruments

flute, piffero

Biography

Zé da Flauta, artistic name of José Vasconcelos de Oliveira, was born in Recife, Pernambuco, on December 28, 1954. A flutist, piffero player, composer, cultural producer, and researcher, he began his musical journey in childhood under the tutelage of his maternal grandmother, a pianist and creator of silent film soundtracks, later studying at the Conservatório Pernambucano de Música and the Escola de Música do Recife. In the 1970s, he joined the band PHETUS alongside Lailson de Holanda and Paulo Rafael, actively participating in the Pernambucan psychedelic scene known as Udigrudis and collaborating with names such as Marconi Notaro, Flaviola, Zé Ramalho, Elba Ramalho, and Ave Sangria. Throughout his prolific career, he has accompanied renowned artists like Alceu Valença and was a member of Quinteto Violado, in addition to founding the SpokFrevo Orquestra and playing a decisive role in the renewal and appreciation of contemporary instrumental frevo.

Throughout his career, Zé da Flauta also stood out as a producer, arranger, and musical researcher, having founded the Clave studio and the Matita Discos label, through which he released pioneering works that revealed talents such as singer-songwriter Lenine. His work extended to the production of soundtracks for film and theater, earning him important awards at national festivals, as well as highly publicized advertising work. In the 1990s, he was involved with the manguebeat movement, collaborating with Chico Science, Cascabulho, and Ortinho. With a discography that includes striking albums such as Caruá, Engenho de Meninos, and Psicoativo, he has solidified his name as one of the great figures of instrumental music and cultural preservation in Pernambuco.