Roberto Menescal

Roberto Menescal
Background information
Born	(1937-10-25)October 25, 1937 Brazil
Genres	Bossa nova, samba,música popular brasileira
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, record producer, arranger, label owner
Instrument	Guitar
Years active	1950s–present
Labels	PolyGram, Albatroz

Roberto Menescal(born October 25, 1937) is a Brazilian composer, record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and pioneer ofbossa nova.In many of his songs there are references to the sea, including his best-known composition "O Barquinho" ( "Little Boat" ). He is also known for work withCarlos Lyra,Nara Leão,Wanda Sá,Ale Vanzella,and many others. Menescal has performed inLatin musicgenres such asMúsica popular brasileira(Brazilian pop), bossa nova, andsamba.He was nominated for aLatin Grammyfor his work with his son's bossa groupBossacucanovain 2002 and received the 2013 Latin Recording Academy Special Awards in Las Vegas in November 2013.

Career

In 1957, he worked as sideman forSylvia Tellesin Brazil.A year later he started a guitar school withCarlos Lyra.He formed one of the earliest bossa nova bands with Bebeto, Henrique, João Mário, and Luís Carlos Vinhas.He spread bossa nova through performances and concerts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, such as the I Festival de Samba Session.Alaíde Costa recorded Menescal's song "Jura de Pombo" in 1959."O Barquinho" was recorded the next year byMaysa,Paulinho Nogueira,and Perry Ribeiro.He sang "O Barquinho" atCarnegie Hallin 1962 when he attended the Bossa Nova Festival withCarlos LyraandAntonio Carlos Jobim.During the middle to late 1960s, he was an arranger and record producer forPolyGram,producing music forMaria Bethânia,Gal Costa,Gilberto Gil,Jorge Ben Jor,andCaetano Veloso.In 1970, he became the talent scout for PolyGram. He composed music for movies and television and was a sideman in the studio forNara Leão,Elis Regina,Jair Rodrigues,and Claudette Soares.In the 1980s, he concentrated on a solo career, recording with jazz saxophonistJoe Henderson.He owns the record label Albatross.

Discography

• A Bossa Nova(Elenco,1963)
• The Boy from Ipanema Beach(Kapp,1965)
• O Conjunto De Roberto Menescal(1969)
• Um Cantinho, Um Violão(Philips, 1985)
• Swingueira(Albatroz,1996)
• Bossa Evergreen(Albatroz, 2000)
• Brasilidade(Six Degrees, 2001)
• Bossa Entre Amigos(Albatroz, 2003)
• Bossa Jazz SessionwithEddy Palermo(Albatroz, 2003)
• Bossa Zen(Albatroz, 2003)
• Eu & ChiswithCris Delanno(Albatroz, 2003)
• Jazz Zen(Albatroz, 2004)