Hermeto Pascoal, the innovative Brazilian composer famed for his blend of jazz and traditional music, has died at the age of 89.
The self-taught multi-instrumentalist rose from child poverty to international fame - with Miles Davis calling him the most important musician on the planet.
He was surrounded by family and fellow musicians, a statement announcing his death says. It did not give details.
Pascoal wrote more than 2,000 instrumental pieces and continued to arrange music and record artists well into his 80s.
The artist was primarily a pianist and flutist, but also played saxophone, guitars, drums, and accordions - frequently incorporating household objects into his work. During the recording of his debut album 'Slaves Mass' for Warner Brothers in 1976, he famously brought a pair of live pigs into the studio.
Born on June 22, 1936, in a rural settlement north-east of Alagoas, his albinism prevented him from working outside with his family, leading him to teach himself music indoors. Aged 10, he began playing at dances and weddings, eventually performing forró and other traditional Brazilian music across the region.
In the late 1950s, he moved to Rio de Janeiro and discovered the city's jazz scene, performing in nightclubs and joining a radio orchestra. His blend of jazz and traditional folk styles caught the attention of Brazil's top musicians, including singer Elis Regina and percussionist Airto Moreira, who toured the US with Pascoal and introduced him to Miles Davis.
Despite earning respect in the jazz world, Pascoal rejected being labeled solely as a jazz musician, emphasizing his deep ties to Brazilian music, including chorinho and samba. When they think I am doing one thing I am already doing something else... It's very liquid, he expressed in a 2022 interview.
Pascoal's family announced his passing on Instagram, encouraging people to honor him by letting a single note ring—from an instrument, their voice, or even a kettle—offering it to the universe.
