(born Paulo Pereira D'Aquino on May 7, 1941, in São Paulo, SP, Brazil;died on March 13, 2011, in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil)
Don Chacal, who passed away yesterday at age 69, was not only one of Brazil's best percussionists ever (a master specially on bongos, congas & timbales), but also one of the most versatile and most-in-demand studio musicians in Rio de Janeiro's busy studio scene of the 70s, 80s and 90s. He took part in over 500 albums - from instrumental jazz sessions with Marcio Montarroyos and Antonio Adolfo to several platinum albums by Brazil's top pop singers (from Wilson Simonal to Elis Regina, from Chico Buarque to Tim Maia plus Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Edu Lobo, Nara Leão, João Bosco, Ney Matogrosso and dozens of others.)
The first time I saw him playing was on Elis Regina's "Saudade do Brasil" concert at Canecão, in Rio de Janeiro, when I was 16. A few years later, I had the opportunity to work with him in several occasions, most memorably on Yana Purim's "Harvest Time" album, when another great percussionist, Sidinho Moreira, introduced me to Chacal at a time when he wasn't known yet as "Don Chacal."
He was included in several compilations produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro throughout the years - from Pascoal Meirelles' "Considerações" to the best-selling series "A Trip to Brazil" for Verve/Universal. The last time we met was in 2002, during one of my trips to Rio. I had produced the first CD reissue of the "Sergio Mendes and the New Brasil '77" album, and gave him a copy. He smiled like a child who got a candy, and hugged me.
That LP had been recorded during one of the two short periods he lived in the USA. Firstly, in 1977, when he became a member of Sergio Mendes' group (also appearing on the "Pelé" soundtrack with Gerry Mulligan), and in the early 90s when invited to join Paul Simon's 17-piece band assembled for the worldwide tour "Born at the Right Time" after having recorded on Simon's "The Rhythm of the Saints" album.
That tour was documented on the "Concert in the Park" project, recorded & filmed in NY's Central Park on August 15, 1991 in front of a crowd of 750,000 people, being released in several formats - vinyl, CD, VHS and LaserDisc, although not yet officially available on DVD. Some of Chacal's bandmates were Michael Brecker, Richard Tee, Steve Gadd and three other Brazilian percussionists - his close friend Sidinho Moreira, NY-based wiz Cyro Baptista and Cama de Gato's member Mingo Araujo. When the tour ended, he soon returned to his native Brazil.
He was included in several compilations produced by Arnaldo DeSouteiro throughout the years - from Pascoal Meirelles' "Considerações" to the best-selling series "A Trip to Brazil" for Verve/Universal. The last time we met was in 2002, during one of my trips to Rio. I had produced the first CD reissue of the "Sergio Mendes and the New Brasil '77" album, and gave him a copy. He smiled like a child who got a candy, and hugged me.
That LP had been recorded during one of the two short periods he lived in the USA. Firstly, in 1977, when he became a member of Sergio Mendes' group (also appearing on the "Pelé" soundtrack with Gerry Mulligan), and in the early 90s when invited to join Paul Simon's 17-piece band assembled for the worldwide tour "Born at the Right Time" after having recorded on Simon's "The Rhythm of the Saints" album.
That tour was documented on the "Concert in the Park" project, recorded & filmed in NY's Central Park on August 15, 1991 in front of a crowd of 750,000 people, being released in several formats - vinyl, CD, VHS and LaserDisc, although not yet officially available on DVD. Some of Chacal's bandmates were Michael Brecker, Richard Tee, Steve Gadd and three other Brazilian percussionists - his close friend Sidinho Moreira, NY-based wiz Cyro Baptista and Cama de Gato's member Mingo Araujo. When the tour ended, he soon returned to his native Brazil.
During the 2000s, Don Chacal recorded with Vanessa da Mata, Jards Macalé, Azymuth, João Donato, Marcos Valle, Ed Motta, Nana Caymmi, Os Ipanemas and Grupo Batuque. Rest in Peace.
For a bio in Portuguese, please check:http://www.dicionariompb.com.br/don-chacal/dados-artisticos
Iniciou sua carreira profissional em 1958, tocando em orquestra de bailes, como as dos maestros Osmar Milani e Élcio Alvarez.
No início dos anos 1960, viajou para a Argentina, onde tocou durante três meses com a orquestra do maestro Pocho.
De 1968 a 1972, atuou como percussionista do conjunto Som 3, ao lado de César Camargo Mariano, Sabá e Toninho, e acompanhando o cantor Wilson Simonal em várias excursões nacionais e internacionais.
Em 1975, participou de inúmeros shows de Ney Matogrosso, atuando ao lado de Marcio Montarroyos.
Em 1976 e 1977, morou em Los Angeles (EUA), onde integrou a banda de Sérgio Mendes, atuando em todas as turnês internacionais do grupo. De volta ao Brasil, retomou sua atuação como percussionista de Ney Matogrosso até 1978, excursionando novamente por todo o Brasil com o cantor.
De 1979 a 1981, atuou ao lado de César Camargo Mariano como percussionista de Elis Regina, participando dos shows "Saudades do Brasil" (sic) e "Essa mulher".
Em 1982, tocou com Chico Buarque, João Bosco e Ney Matogrosso. Em 1983, trabalhou com Ney Matogrosso, com quem excursionou por todo o Brasil e apresentou-se em Portugal e no Festival de Montreux (Suíça). Em 1984, gravou com vários cantores. De 1985 a 1987, atuou com Gonzaguinha em shows por todo o Brasil.
Em 1986, excursionou pelo Brasil com Gonzaguinha.
De 1987 a 1989, voltou a trabalhar com Ney Matogrosso, atuando ao lado de Arthur Moreira Lima, Raphael Rabello e Paulo Moura.
Em 1988, participou da gravação do CD de Paul Simon
"The Rhythm of the Saints", concontemplado com o Disco de Platina pela vendagem de mais de 1.000.000 de cópias.
Em 1991 e 1992, participou da turnê mundial e do famoso concerto desse artista realizado no Central Park (EUA). Voltou para o Brasil em 1992, onde vem atuando com vários artistas, como Tânia Alves, Nana Caymmi, Claudia Telles, Paulinho Tapajós e Rosa Passos.
Em 2000, participou do Carnajazz, festival de jazz de Búzios, ao lado de Marcio Montarroyos, Rafael Vernet, José Santa Rosa e Kleberson Caetano. Em 2002, gravou nos songbooks de João Donato e Marcos Valle. Também nesse ano, viajou com Marcos Valle e o grupo Azymuth ao Japão, onde fez turnê de shows em Tóquio (Blue Note), Osaka, Yokohama e outras cidades. Em novembro de 2003, fez temporada de shows no Vinicius Bar, ao lado de Claudia Telles e Paulinho Tapajós.
É um dos integrantes do grupo Conversa de Cordas, com o qual gravou os discos "Biscuit" (1995) e "Vou vivendo de folia" (1996).
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