Zimbo Trio has been played on NTS over 10 times, featured on 13 episodes and was first played on 11 October 2015.

The Zimbo Trio is a Brazilian instrumental ensemble trio, established in 1964 in São Paulo, and originally comprising Amilton Godoy (piano), Luís Chaves (bass) and Rubinho Barsotti (drums). The Trio was one of the most influential groups of Brazilian music in the second half of the 20th century.

A reference group in Brazilian music in its several decades of existence, almost always with the same formation, the group has recorded more than 40 albums throughout the world, receiving several national prizes as Best Instrumental Group (Cidade de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro, Troféu Imprensa, Chico Viola, Medalha de Ouro dos Diários Associados, Roquette Pinto, Euterpe, among others) as well as international awards. The group's international presentations include the Smithsonian Museum and Tawn Hall, in New York, and U.C.L.A. in Los Angeles, having also toured through Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, and Japan.

History

Zimbo Trio was formed in 1964 in São Paulo by classically trained pianist Amilton Godoy, bassist/composer/orchestrator Luís Chaves, and drummer Rubinho (Rubens Barsotti). They performed for the first time on March 17 1964 under the name of Zimbo Trio at Boite Oásis (Oásis nightclub) in São Paulo, accompanying the famous actress and novice singer Norma Benguel in a show directed by Aluísio de Oliveira. Soon, the group was awarded the Pinheiro de Ouro prize as Best Instrumental Group at the I Festival do Paraná da MPB. In 1964 they recorded their first LP, “Zimbo Trio”, also known as ” Zimbo Trio, Vol. 1.”

In 1965, the trio traveled to Lima, Peru, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the festival of Mar del Plata, Argentina, they received the Cancioneiro das Américas award. In 1966, the trio toured Portugal and Luanda, Angola, appearing at the Cannes International Cinema Festival, Cannes, France. The Zimbo Trio received awards for best soundtrack for the movies “Noite Vazia” (1965, Walter Hugo Khoury) and “A Margem” (1967, Ozualdo Candeias).

In 1965 the show “O Fino da Bossa” was thought up at São Paulo’s the TV Record, Zimbo Trio was invited to be the instrumental fixed band for the show's hosts, singers Elis Regina and Jair Rodrigues. In the same year they also released the album "O Fino Do Fino ("Ao Vivo", No Teatro Record)" with Elis Regina. The TV show marked the end of an era of dissemination of sophisticated jazz-based arrangements intertwined with Brazilian style artistry in popular music, which would soon be substituted by the teenish “iê-iê-iê” culture of Músicas de Jovem guarda as O Fino da Bossa show was expelled from the schedule.

Zimbo Trio was also part of “Bossaudade”, another important show in the same vein, but less widely known, hosted by Elizete Cardoso. With her, the great Brazilian mandolinist Jacob do Bandolim and his group Época de Ouro, Zimbo Trio performed at the anthological concert on the night of February 19, 1968, at Teatro João Caetano, a theater in Rio. The furiously rainy night didn’t stop 1,500 fans from overcrowding the theater. The show was recorded by the Museu de Imagem e do Som of Rio de Janeiro (Museum of Image and Sound) and was released on three LPs.

Invited by Itamaraty, Brazil's diplomatic service, Zimbo Trio toured Central and South America on a cultural mission. In 1969, the American Countries Organization invited Zimbo Trio to represent Brazil at the International Festival of Cosquín in Cordoba, Argentina. The group extended the mission, also playing in Washington, New York, and Los Angeles.

In 1972, The Zimbo Trio toured Portugal and Spain with Elizete Cardoso. Accompanying the Brazilian singer Sílvia Maria on Adilson's composition "Heróica," The Zimbo Trio was awarded first prize at the Festival de Onda Nueva, Caracas, Venezuela. In 1973, The Zimbo Trio expanded their activities to the educational area, opening the CLAM music courses, soon famous and concurred in Brazil, and Zimbo Edições Musicais (a publishing house dedicated to producing didactic material for musical learning). The modern erudite composer Ciro Pereira wrote the dedicated Pequeno Concerto para o Zimbo Trio, performed by the group in 1974 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, accompanied by the Symphonic Orchestra of Buenos Aires and conducted by Simón Blech.

In 1985, they performed at the Free Jazz Festival in São Paulo. In that same year, the group was featured on the show Café Concerto on TV Cultura, São Paulo. They toured Japan in 1987 and were featured on the Jazz Brasil show, also for TV Cultura, São Paulo.

In 2007, bassist Luiz Chaves, a founder of Zimbo Trio, died. Itamar Collaço (electric bass) was in charge of carrying on Luiz’s legacy.

In 2010 Mario Andreotti replaced Itamar.

Currently, Zimbo Trio is formed by Amilton Godoy (piano), Mario Andreotti (bass) and Percio Sapia (drums) who shares the stage with his master Rubens Barsotti, who spend some time recovering from a surgery. In a new phase, the trio has a repertoire of Amilton's compositions.

Over a 45-year career and 51 albums recorded, the Zimbo Trio has gained worldwide recognition, toured the world, and spread Brazilian instrumental music.

Discography

Zimbo Trio (1965) RGE LP O fino do Fino – Elis Regina and Zimbo Trio (1965), Philips LP, CD Zimbo Trio-vol. II (1966) RGE LP Zimbo Trio-vol. III (1967) LP É tempo de samba - Zimbo Trio + Strings (1968) LP Live in João Caetano Theater-vol. I – Elizeth Cardoso, Zimbo Trio, Jacob do Bandolim and Época de Ouro (1968) Museum of Image and Sound LP, CD Live in João Caetano Theater-vol. II - Elizeth Cardoso, Zimbo Trio, Jacob do Bandolim and Época de Ouro (1968) Museum of Image and Sound LP, CD The Zimbo Trio - The Brazilian Sound Restrained Excitement (1968) Pacific Jazz/Liberty Records LP Zimbo Trio + Strings-vol. II (1969) LP Decisão-Zimbo Trio + Metals (1969) RGE LP Elizeth & Zimbo Trio - Balançam na Sucata (1969) Copacabana LP, CD É de manhã. Elizeth Cardoso & Zimbo Trio (1970) Copacabana LP Strings and brass plays the hits (1971) Phonogram LP Opus pop - Zimbo Trio & orchestra - Classics with bossa (1972) Phonogram LP Opus pop nº 2 (1973) Phonogram LP FM Stereo (1974) Phonogram LP Zimbo (1976) RGE LP Unpublished fragments of the historical recital in João Caetano Theater, Feb. 19, 1968 - Elizeth Cardoso, Jacob do Bandolim, Zimbo Trio & Época de ouro-vol. 3 (1977) Museum of Image and Sound LP, CD Zimbo (1978) CLAM/Continental LP Zimbo invites Sonny Stitt (1979) Clam/Continental LP Zimbo invites Sebastião Tapajós (1982) Clam LP Zimbo invites (1982) Clam LP Changing Jeca's sadness into kids (1983) Clam/Continental LP Zimbo Trio interprets Milton Nascimento (1986) Clam/Continental LP Zimbo Trio and Tom – Vol. I (1988) Clam LP Zimbo Trio and the children (1989) Clam LP Clã do Clam (1992) CD Instrumental in CCBB – Canhoto da Paraíba & Zimbo Trio (1993) Tom Brasil CD Aquarela do Brasil (1993) Movieplay CD Between Friends (Entre amigos) - Claudya & Zimbo Trio (1994) Movieplay CD Elizeth Cardoso, Jacob do Bandolim, Zimbo Trio & Época de Ouro - Live in João Caetano Theater - Feb. 19 '68 (1994) Tartaruga (Japan) CD Caminhos cruzados (Crossroads) - Zimbo Trio interprets Tom Jobim (1995) Movieplay CD Brasil musical - Música Viva series - Zimbo Trio & Maurício Einhorn (1996) Tom Brasil CD Zimbo Trio (1997) RGE CD 35 Years (1999) Movieplay CD This century's Brazilian music by its authors & performers - Zimbo Trio (2001) Sesc-SP CD

Sources:

Previous Versions: Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide Wiki: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbo_Trio