Hermeto Pascoal Tribute Concert: Frost Jazz Orchestra

Brazilian rhythms, jazz improvisation and unconventional orchestral ideas come together in a concert celebrating the music of composer and multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal. The Frost Jazz Orchestra performs Thursday, January 28 at Gusman Concert Hall as part of the Frost School of Music’s 2026-2027 season, with Rafael Piccolotto de Lima serving as guest conductor and John Daversa as director. The program features new arrangements and interpretations inspired by Pascoal’s expansive approach to composition. Known in Brazil as “O Bruxo,” or “The Sorcerer,” Pascoal spent decades blurring distinctions among jazz, forró, samba, experimental music and other Brazilian traditions, frequently incorporating unexpected objects and environmental sounds into his work. The influential musician, who collaborated with Miles Davis and numerous Brazilian artists, died in September 2025 at age 89. Brazilian composer and arranger Piccolotto de Lima brings a longstanding engagement with Pascoal’s music to the program; his own work has included compositions and arrangements built from Pascoal themes.