Wednesday, January 1, 2020

R.I.P.: Marcelo Salazar (1953-2019)

R.I.P.: Marcelo Salazar, aged 66.
(born December 31, 1953 in Rio de Janeiro, RJ;
died on December 31, 2019 in Lima Duarte, Minas Gerais)

Great Brazilian percussionist, a visionary composer, lyricist and producer. Worked with Oliver Lake, Ian O'Brien, Ithamara Koorax, Al DiMeola, Arthur Verocai, Carlos Pingarilho, Luiz Bonfá, Sivuca, Francis Hime, Ney Matogrosso, Danilo Caymmi, Sebastião Tapajós, Chet Baker, Tom Noble, Bossa Cuca Nova, the funk group Odyssey, and the legendary German fusion band Passport, among many others.

Member of Marcos Resende & Index, having recorded a cult album with them for the MPBC series on the Philips label ("Festa Para Um Novo Rei"), back in 1978. Lived in Denmark for some years during the '80s, working on a duo project with Jorge Degas. Together they released a couple of acclaimed albums: "União" and "Muxima."

Wrote the hit "With You" for the UK-based act Smoke City in 1998. Later co-wrote (with Roberto Menescal) a song titled "Smoke In The City," featuring singer Ithamara Koorax, which became a hit in Europe and Asia in 2003, remixed by several DJs. Another hit song written by Salazar, "Caminho do Gol," was featured on a compilation I produced for Verve German in 2006, "A Trip To Brazil Vol. 5: Copa do Mundo 2006."

Recorded as a leader for the Visom and JSR labels. A great human being and a dear friend with whom I had the honor to work on several projects by Dom Um Romão, Ithamara Koorax, Pingarilho, the all-star date Street Angels etc.

His last album, "Tropical Lounge Project," came out on Arnaldo DeSouteiro's JSR (Jazz Station Records) label, and he invited me to do special effects on a tune ("Batukiloko") that eventually was included on such compilations as "Paule Ka Loves Brasil", produced by DJ Dudu Dub. Salazar also released the DVD "Future Percussion," a fantastic percussion sample library anthology.

Marcelo Salazar passed away yesterday, December 31st, 2019, the day he was born in 1953... My condolences to his son Denis and all his family.

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