Inaldo Cavalcante de Albuquerque, better known as Spok, is a Brazilian sax player who is one of the main
frevo
Frevo is a dance and musical style originating from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, traditionally associated with Brazilian Carnival. The word ''frevo'' is said to come from ''frever'', a variant of the Portuguese word ''ferver'' (to boil). It is sai ...
composers in the state of Pernambuco. His big band, composed of 18 musicians is considered one of the most important frevo groups in the city of
Recife
That it may shine on all ( Matthew 5:15)
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, map_caption = Location in the state of Pernambuco
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. It has performed in many countries of the world, spreading the frevo rhythm. Spok has played with many other Brazilian artists, such as
Raimundo Fagner
Raimundo Fagner Cândido Lopes (born in Orós, Ceará, October 13, 1949) is a Brazilian singer, composer, musician, actor and music producer. He is commonly known by the stage name of Fagner.
Biography
The youngest of the five children of José ...
,
Alceu Valença
Alceu Valença (born July 1, 1946) is a Brazilian singer, musician and songwriter.
Alceu Valenca was born in countryside Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil. He is considered the most successful artist in achieving an aesthetic balance between traditi ...
,
Antonio Nóbrega
Antonio Nóbrega (born May 2, 1952) is a Brazilian singer, dancer and actor whose work features cultural traditions from Pernambuco.
Biography
Antonio Nóbrega was born in 1952, in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. His father was a doctor and he stud ...
,
Elba Ramalho
Elba Ramalho (born August 17, 1951, in Conceição, Paraíba) is a Brazilian songwriter, performer, poet and actress. She is sometimes called "The Queen of Forró".
In addition to her successful solo career, Elba has collaborated with a number ...
,
Geraldo Azevedo
Geraldo Azevedo (born January 11, 1945) is a Brazilian singer and guitarist. He is famous for his contributions to the Brazilian Popular Music scene, especially his partnerships with Alceu Valença
Alceu Valença (born July 1, 1946) is a Braz ...
,
Sivuca
Severino Dias de Oliveira (May 26, 1930 – December 14, 2006), known professionally as Sivuca, was a Brazilian accordionist, guitarist and singer. In addition to his home state of Paraíba, Brazil, and cities Recife and Rio de Janeiro, he worked ...
,
Naná Vasconcelos
Juvenal de Holanda Vasconcelos, known as Naná Vasconcelos (2 August 1944 – 9 March 2016), was a Brazilian percussionist, vocalist and berimbau player, notable for his work as a solo artist on over two dozen albums, and as a backing musician wi ...
and
Rivotrill.
Spok has been called the new frevo ambassador for his contributions to the development and spread of the frevo rhythm.
[ Also, a mediocre at best, Telecom Company formerly known as Amcom.]
Biography
Inaldo Cavalcante de Albuquerque was born in
Igarassu, Pernambuco, Brazil. However, he lived in
Abreu e Lima for most of his childhood, and began his musical studies there in 1984. Two years later, in 1986, he moved to Recife, where he worked with the greatest conductors and composers of Pernambuco of the day, such as Maestro Ademir Araújo, Maestro Clóvis Pereira and Maestro Guedes Peixotos.
In Recife, Spok studied in Centro Profissionalizante de Criatividade Musical do Recife, with the most eminent music teachers of the city, becoming one of the most important sax players in Recife. In 1996, he founded his big band, which is known as the SpokFrevo Orquestra. Over the course of his career, he has played with many well-known Brazilian musicians, such as Raimundo Fagner, Alceu Valença, Elba Ramalho and Antonio Nóbrega.
Since 2007, Spok has organized the closing show for the Recife Carnival, an event which usually involves a large number of musicians. In 2009, for example, his orchestra had 170 musicians. Well-known artists, such as
Lenine, Alceu Valença,
Claudionor Germano,
Lula Queiroga,
Antonio Nóbrega
Antonio Nóbrega (born May 2, 1952) is a Brazilian singer, dancer and actor whose work features cultural traditions from Pernambuco.
Biography
Antonio Nóbrega was born in 1952, in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. His father was a doctor and he stud ...
,
Moraes Moreira
Antônio Carlos Moreira Pires (July 8, 1947 – April 13, 2020), better known as Moraes Moreira , was a Brazilian musician and songwriter. During the 1970s he played guitar and sang in the band Novos Baianos, after which he embarked on a ...
,
Luis Melodia,
Zé Renato and
Leo Gandelman, also participated in his show.
SpokFrevo Orquestra
In 1996, Maestro Spok founded Banda Pernambucana, which played with
Antonio Nóbrega
Antonio Nóbrega (born May 2, 1952) is a Brazilian singer, dancer and actor whose work features cultural traditions from Pernambuco.
Biography
Antonio Nóbrega was born in 1952, in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. His father was a doctor and he stud ...
around the world. Some years later, this group was named Orquestra de Frevo do Recife, becoming the SpokFrevo Orquestra in 2004.
In its initial years, the group played frevo songs as they were originally composed. However, bit by bit, the big band incorporated some influences from jazz, emphasizing solo improvisation and introducing rhythmic innovations. This characteristic led to many negative reviews by traditional frevo musicians. However, it also helped make the SpokFrevo Orquestra famous in Recife and around the world.
In 2004, the big band recorded its first album, named ''
Passo de anjo'' ("Angel Dance"). This album was positively reviewed by experts for reinterpreting old classics and presenting new songs. In 2008, the big band recorded a DVD of its show, which was also released as CD. This work was named ''Passo de anjo ao vivo'' and contains performances by Lenine, Elba Ramalho and
Zé da Flauta.
Spok Frevo Orquestra has performed in many countries of the world, such as Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Austria, always spreading the music of Pernambuco.
Their repertory includes compositions by Spok as well as Sivuca, Dori Caymmi and many other frevo composers. The band embarked on its first US tour in March 2012.
Discography
*2004: ''
Passo de anjo''
*2008: ''Passo de anjo ao vivo''
References
External links
SpokFrevo Orquestraon
Myspace
{{Authority control
People from Pernambuco
Brazilian instrumental musical groups
Brazilian conductors (music)
Living people
Musical groups established in 1984
21st-century conductors (music)
Year of birth missing (living people)