Jazz Articles about Helio Alves

Helio Alves and Duduka Da Fonseca: The Indomitable Brazilians

by Nick Catalano
May 2, 2021

Undeterred by the pandemic, camaradas Helio Alves and Duduka Da Fonseca continue their masterful musicianship in Gotham boîtes wearing masks as they consistently perform ever-fresh music from the Brazilian archives. Performing at Smalls Jazz Club on April 28 in front of stouthearted souls representing New York's proud jazz patronage while streaming the show for worldwide adherents, they once again displayed their knowledge and command of Brazilian composers and compositions. Both samba stalwarts have fronted various combos in their ...

The Brazilian Trio: Águas Brasileiras

by Dan Bilawsky
January 2, 2021

Brazilian waters beckon with their beauty and energies, and this trio serves as a perfect vessel to carry the ears across that aqua viva. Pianist Helio Alves, bassist Nilson Matta and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca--three Brazilian heavies long based in New York—have played together in different configurations and situations for decades. And when they first banded together under this appellation for Forests (Zoho Music, 2008), they quickly earned the respect they so richly deserve by netting a Latin Grammy nomination. ...

Helio Alves and Duduka Da Fonseca (HD2): Songs from the Last Century

by Dr. Judith Schlesinger
July 20, 2013

One of the many delights of writing for All About Jazz is stumbling upon a great CD from the past, and being able to bring it to an audience that might have missed its debut. It's clear that Songs from the Last Century is one of these rare gems--even before a single note is heard, the list of players and songs suggests that something very special is going on.For one thing, the leaders are the superb pianist Helio ...

Helio Alves: Música

by AAJ Italy Staff
May 12, 2011

Música è il risultato di un incontro tra musicisti di diversa estrazione, ma uniti dalla voglia di suonare jazz con grande sentimento, che rispondono ai nomi di Helio Alves, Antonio Sanchez e Rueben Rogers. Nove sono le tracce in scaletta, che si svincolono spesso dalle linee di condotta del classico piano-trio, sia per un atteggiamento che riesce a muoversi nell'ambito di una certa originalità espressiva - che ibrida con successo mainstream e sapori latini - , che per gli interventi ...

Helio Alves: It's Clear

by Marcia Hillman
November 15, 2009

Helio Alves is one of the most sought-after pianists around with a solid technical foundation (starting his classical training at an early age) and a highly developed respect for his fellow musicians. He knows how to listen, how much and when to play and how to build his solos with imagination and interest. Joined by fellow Brazilian Romero Lubambo on guitar, Scott Colley on bass and Ernesto Simpson on drums, Alves features an eclectic mixture of material--originals ...

Thiago de Mello & Dexter Payne: Another Feeling

by Chris M. Slawecki
January 18, 2007

Have you ever walked alone through a quiet beautiful woodland and stepped into an open space full of nothing but warm and growing brightness, and felt like nature was a cathedral and you were seated in its front row? Another Feeling sounds just like that: completely, naturally, immaculate and beautiful.

Dexter Payne on clarinet and alto saxophone creates this Feeling with writer/ arranger Thiago de Mello on acoustic piano, guitar and “organic percussion, handmade instruments personally crafted from ...

Helio Alves: Portrait in Black and White

by Terrell Kent Holmes
October 7, 2004

Brazilian pianist Helio Alves has put together Portrait in Black and White , a wonderful trio collaboration with bassist Santi Debriano and drummer Matt Wilson, who appeared recently at the Montréal Jazz Festival as part of the Charlie Haden Trio. The opener, “Frenzy," an Alves original, develops slowly within its circular theme, then accelerates quickly into a first-class burner, with Alves whipping off a dazzling and complex solo, the ideas flowing effortlessly from his fingers as Wilson and ...