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Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto: Mais Que Tudo: Live at Kerry Hall 1995

By Bruce Phares
August 30, 2025
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: Jovino Santos Neto Quarteto: Mais Que Tudo: Live at Kerry Hall 1995

Sit down. Put on the best earphones you've got. A seatbelt wouldn't hurt, either. Get ready to be blown away. From the opening salvo of

Jovino Santos Neto

piano
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Jovino Santos Neto's dazzling composition "Metamorph," you're about to be taken on a musical journey of intense elation, abandon, and passion, engaging and urgent in all aspects, through the many twists and turns of what now is considered a legendary concert; the first time Seattle ears were given a chance to hear these amazing songs performed by consummate artists comprising the earliest version of Jovino Santos Neto's acclaimed Quinteto groupings. JSN's amazing command of compositional dexterity rings through each piece, showing his deep immersion in modern Brazilian composition, underscored by his 15 years as an apprentice of the great

Hermeto Pascoal

flute
b.1936

" data-original-title="" title="">Hermeto Pascoal. His unique voice shines through on every piece, always bringing new ideas, never falling back upon safe Brazilian standard formatting.

With JSN on piano, the amazing

Hans Teuber

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Hans Teuber on woodwinds, the sadly departed

Chuck Deardorf

bass
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Chuck Deardorf on acoustic bass, and the beautiful

Mark Ivester

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Ivester on drums, the band comes out of the gate with "Metamorph" at full speed, burning and driving, their love and excitement for playing JSN's fresh and arousing tunes unrestrained, ready to take the town by storm, with the audience's exaltations of every solo and song's end giving evidence to how powerful the performance was for those fortunate enough to attend.

Each track displays JSN's genius for bringing a broad palette of lush and advanced tonalities, interlacing gentle evocative melodies seamlessly with jagged chaotic key changes, and then returning to classic Brazilian samba, only to roller coaster on to another engaging and provocative section in each of these lustrous compositions. The entire concert is a study in musical expertise. Some of the most talented NW musicians gathered in demonstrable excitement and joy as a living unit, like a journey through a book with many different chapters. The underlying Brazilian rhythms, overlaid by Jovino's composed sections, are brilliantly interpreted by these masters of their instruments. Cutting edge comes to mind.

Jovino's second composition "Mais Que Tudo" begins with a deeply emotional and melancholic set of phrases, beautifully written and executed. Chuck's bowing work on the acoustic bass brings testament to his years of study with Ron Simon of the Seattle Symphony. His solo over shifting changes displays his prolific improvisation abilities. Breaking into a 6/8 section after Chuck's solo, Jovino brings the heat.

The opening sequence to "Caranavalha" is like a masterclass in advanced harmonization, coupling tonal center movement with engaging melodic lines, then shifting to a challenging set of layered ostinato figures. Another stunning solo from Jovino is followed by a tasteful drum solo from Mark, playing over jagged yet precise rhythmic punches. The audience agrees with an explosion of applause!

"Chorel��tico" begins with a beautifully unfolding solo bass exposition from Chuck, telling a story born of decades of artistry, a display of great musical talent and mastery of the bass, his final notes rising and rising, until finally hitting a high harmonic D on his G string, bringing in the band for an ensuing romp at a gallop, with a stellar solo from Hans, displaying his improvisational skills, aptly giving deep respect to the amazing lines written by JSN.

The lilting and playful medley of two Hermeto Pascoal compositions, "Candango" and "Haja Juntas," begins with the beautiful flute work of Teuber, with a happy bouncing melodic line, and alternating punches, displaying the talent of these four masters. An exquisite composition, layering on more and more ideas, adding tempo and speed, until it deconstructs into an explosion of percussive free jazz. The audience erupts with applause at the end of this phase, creating a launching point for a brilliant drum solo by Mark Ivester. The audience once again applauds, in excitement and appreciation for his solo, which is now flowing into Jovino's abstract improvisation. Hans joins in unison lines of the melody of "Haja Juntas," growing more and more complex, coming at the listener faster and faster, until the final surprising end, and you can just imagine the crowd likely jumping to their feet and excitement, given the yells and applause recorded here.

The 3/4 time piece "Hoping for the Day" begins with Chuck playing the sweet and hopeful melody line, then joined by Hans. The appropriate title is evident by the love given by Chuck in his solo on the piece. Beautiful solos by all are followed by a unison melody by Chuck and Hans once again at the end.

Jovino arrived as a student at Seattle's Cornish College of the Arts in September 1993, and within a week he had met both Chuck Deardorf and Hans Teuber. They started a weekly series of rehearsals and the three immediately felt a remarkable kinship leading to constant jamming and rehearsing. Once they were joined by Mark Ivester, JSN started to compose for the Quarteto, building the core group that would later become the Quinteto. Chuck was instrumental in organizing their first performance at Kerry Hall on April 28, 1995, which is captured in this album.

An 8-track recording of the show was made and archived. Jovino found it and arranged to have it digitized and mixed. The sound was unique, especially because of Chuck's playing. For three decades Jovino and Chuck built a deep and understanding friendship, sharing a similar sense of humor and love for the music.

The final song on the album, a surprise celebration for his son's 13th birthday, allows Jovino to give a lesson in compositional and harmonic variation, a beautiful and thoughtful extrapolation on one of the most well-known tunes in the world. At the end, a classic samba expression of this happy song is followed by a harmonically and rhythmically explosive solo by Jovino.

This CD is dedicated to Chuck Deardorf. I'm honored that Jovino asked me to share my observations, and I do so in deep love for a very dear friend, now lost. Chuck's amazing spirit lives on in this recording. Thank you.

Liner Notes copyright ? 2025 Bruce Phares.

Mais Que Tudo: Live at Kerry Hall 1995 can be purchased here.

Contact Bruce Phares at All About Jazz.

Track Listing

Metamorph; Mais Que Tudo; Caranavalha; Chorel��tico; Candango / Haja Juntas; Hoping for the Day; Happy Birthday Ariel!

Personnel

Jovino Santos Neto

piano

Hans Teuber

saxophone

Chuck Deardorf

bass

Mark Ivester

drums

Album information

Title: Mais Que Tudo: Live at Kerry Hall 1995 | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Origin Records

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