Over 25 Years of
Composing, Performing, Recording and Teaching Brazilian Music
Obrigado!
Formats: Concert band; Dance Band; Carnaval in Brazil; Private/Corporate Parties; Educational Programs
MINAS... Biography / Background
Orlando Haddad and Patricia King formed
Minas in 1978 in college in North Carolina to bring Brazilian
music to Stateside audiences. They proceeded to play all over
the eastern US before returning to their musical roots in Brazil, where
they entertained audiences in Rio, Recife and Belo Horizonte. Having
resettled in greater Philadelphia, Minas today is one of the hottest
Brazilian bands in the United States.
Minas is built upon the duo's multiple talents as vocalists,
instrumentalists and composers, emp;oying an impressive grasp of the
whole range of Brazilian musical idioms. At the core of any Minas
show are the voices of its leaders blending two decades of vocal harmonizing.
Warm and engaging, this magical blend becomes especially infectious
when Minas adds bass, drums, percussion and horns to Orlando's guitar and
Patricia's keyboards. Minas won Best of
Philadelphia awards from Philadelphia Magazine twice (1989, 1997).
Orlando Haddad's outstanding facility as a guitarist,
vocalist and songwriter is augmented by his lifelong involvement with
Brazilian rhythms and percussion. A native of Lavras in the Brazilian
state of Minas Gerais, he has been a bandleader almost continuously since
the age of 12. As a child he studied classical piano and guitar;
later he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he studied at the Villa Lobos
institute and pursued private guitar studies. In 1974 he came to
the US to study at the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he graduated
with a degree in musical composition. In 1986 he received a Master
of Arts Administration degree from Drexel University. Orlando is a faculty
member at Philadelphia's University of the Arts and has just completed one
year in the Masters program in Music Composition at Temple University.
Patricia King is a native of Denver, Colorado. She began her music education in her childhood studying voice and piano. At age 6 she began performing in musicals. In 1974 she enrolled at North Carolina School of the Arts where she studied opera and met Orlando Haddad. Fully fluent in Portuguese, Patricia lived and performed in Brazil for more than two years, and has journeyed there regularly for the past 20 years. She is a versatile and fluent pianist whose influences range from Bossa-Nova and Samba to Jazz and Rhythm and Blues. She is a prolific songwriter whose compositions are marked by a lyrical and sensuous style.
Concerts
As a prominent member of the Philadelphia Jazz community,
MINAS frequently performs original music in concert. The band's repertoire
includes selections from its 3 independent releases, "Blue Azul", "Dreams
of Brazil" and "Num Dia Azul", as well as standards from renowned artists
such as Jobim, Sergio Mendes, Milton Nascimento, Djavan and Ivan Lins.
MINAS' original sound is defined by the unique blend between Orlando and Patricia's vocals and the interaction of their Brazilian classical guitar and cool jazz piano. The full band's rich instrumental harmonies, creative solos, and most particularly the complex layers of rhythm originated by the pulsating samba percussion bring audiences to their feet in enthusiastic response.
In concert, MINAS typically performs at festivals, art centers,
college/universities, jazz series, and at smaller venues such as listening
clubs and coffeehouses.
Available from a trio up to a full orchestra augmented
by horns, percussionists and costumed dancers, MINAS will involve you
and your entire party in the exciting and energetic pulse of its tropical
sounds.
MINAS' success in the eastern United States in the private as well as corporate sectors has been consistent for the past 16 years with its high standards of professionalism. The group's image is sophisticated, and its sound refreshing.
Brazilian Carnaval with MINAS is a thrilling, participatory
event well suited to ballrooms of almost any size, as well as outdoor
festivals and college venues. Each event features a full range
of authentic Brazilian Carnaval repertoire and other dance music presented
by costumed performers. By varying the number of musician, drummers
and dancers in the company, the size and scope of the Carnaval can be
adjusted to fit a variety of venues, audiences and budgets. In every
instance, the highest levels of musicianship and professionalism are exercised
to ensure an experience never to be forgotten. If you cannot get
to Rio, a MINAS Brazilian Carnaval Ball is the next best alternative!
Whether you're looking for quiet, upbeat, or dance
music, MINAS' versatile sounds and different combo options will fulfill all
of the above. The duo, comprised of keyboard, guitar and vocals, features
Orlando and Patricia, the core of MINAS. In addition you can choose "á
la carte", adding a percussionist, and/or flute, saxophone, bass and drums,
depending on the size and type of your affair. Costumed dancers are also
available upon request.
MINAS' sophisticated music and tropical sounds will engage you and your guests providing either unobtrusive background music or festive entertainment, both of which will give your affair a unique atmosphere. MINAS has been performing for American audiences for over 20 years and has made Brazilian music accessible to its listeners through familiar songs such as "The Girl from Ipanema", and recognizable dance beats. The group's image is sophisticated and you will find its sound refreshing.
MINAS - Music of Brazil
introduces students to the culture of Brazil through its music. Students
become familiar with Samba, Bossa-Nova and Axé, three widely
known styles of Brazilian music, and through participation and hands-on
experience learn, play and explore several Afro-Brazilian percussion
instruments. The influence of African culture and Latin roots are
probed. Differences between Brazil and other Latin-American countries
(for example, Brazilians speak Portuguese, not Spanish), notions of
geography, names of most important cities in Brazil, as well as words
in Portuguese, are introduced. In addition, a tie-in with American
Jazz is emphasized, as Bossa-Nova combines elements of Brazilian
Samba and American Jazz.
MINAS - Music of Brazil can be presented as school assemblies, workshops, and residencies. Minas is on the roster of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and PennPAT (Pennsylvania Performing Artitst on Tour), through which residencies may be arranged and partially funded. The program is presented as a duo or trio, under the direction of Orlando Haddad, B.M., M.S., professional musician, professor at Philadelphia's University of the Arts, performer, recording artist and native Brazilian. Larger ensembles with extra musicians and authentic dancers are also available for special events.
MINAS - Music of Brazil has been enjoyed by over 200,000 children in school programs over the last ten years.
Lincoln Center, SOB's (NYC), Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Mellon Jazz Festival, Academy of Music, International House, Painted Bride Arts Center (Philadelphia), Bethlehem Music Festival, King of France Tavern (Annapolis MD), and many local music clubs including Chestnut Cabaret, Rock Lobster, KatManDu, major hotels, casinos and convention centers.
TV and RADIO: Emeril Live (Food Network); Interviews on Fresh Air and Radio Times (NPR); Sounds of Brazil with Sergio Mielniczenko (KPFK/PRI) Trem Azul with Milton Nascimento (syndicated in Brazil), many interviews with WXPN, WRTI, WHYY, Voice of America, and other stations. Minas CDs have been playing on public and commercial radio throughout North America and Brazil.
Dreams of Brazil- An independent recording of
seven original compositions in the styles of Samba, Bossa-Nova, Brazilian
Jazz, Samba-funk, and quasi-classical toada music. "Dreams
of Brazil plays like a breath of fresh air" -- José Sierra, Samba
Planet
click here
for CD orders, more information and sound files
Blue Azul- a combination of contrasting words for "blue" in English and Portuguese; where opposite feelings for the color blue between the two cultures converge. Ten original compositions plus three bonus tracks, including the popular favorites "Strong Black Coffee" and "Homenagem à Mineira". Minas covers new ground with Chorinho, Afoxé, and touches of Sambareggae as well as their bases of Samba and Jazz.
Read
a review of Blue Azul by Egídio Leitão
COMING SOON:
Minas' newest CD of original work, "In Rio" to be released
March 2006!
All acoustic original Brazilian jazz, recorded last summer in Rio
deJaneiro.
Orlando and Patricia have been composing original material together since the moment of their first meeting in 1974, and individually before that. Their recorded material consists almost exclusively of originals. They are now working on a songbook of published and unpublished work as a way to make their music accessible for performance and recording by other artists.
Original music written for the documentaries "Black Water" by Charlotte Cerf (PBS) and "Amazon Journal" by Geoffrey O'Connor (Discovery Channel, PBS), and Video Cruise Guide to the Bahama Islands. We can produce authentic original music using indigenous Brazilian instruments such as berimbau and cuíca. Contact us for more information.
Please join our mailing list, and we'll keep you posted on new gigs, new releases, all the latest Minas developments...
Tele/Fax: 610/623-3197
Snailmail:
P.O. Box 176
Lansdowne, PA 19050 USA
Maria-Brazil is a great virtual visit to Brazil! Music, background, recipes, fashion, etc etc...
Brazzil Magazine
has a lot of background on the music as well as other aspects of current
Brazilian affairs.
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