Jackson Do Pandeiro - No Quebradinho (baião) from Copacabana 78rpm (1955)

Jackson do Pandeiro, along with a few other innovators like Ary Lobo, transformed Luiz Gonzaga's template for baião and forró. There is ample evidence of other acts, especially vocal harmony groups, that took baião to other places in the 1940s and 1950s. Some of these experiments are wonderful and fascinating, most notably 4 Azes e 1 Coringa, but they didn't become the sound of the future. Jackson won the prize. Although not quite as hi-fi, No Quebradinho is not unlike a record from 1974 or 2022. Few artists have ever had such a dramatic impact on the sound of an entire genre. 

Jackson Do Pandeiro - No Quebradinho (baião) from Copacabana 78rpm (1955)

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Chu Chu Beleza from Tem Mulher, Tô Lá - CBS (1973)

Early 1970s CBS era forró LPs are arguably the pinnacle. The production, recording and mixes were almost always exceptional. If you had great material, and Jackson Do Pandeiro always did, it was the right place at the right time. Unlike many acts on CBS, Jackson chose to bring in his own band vs. the house session musicians provided by Abdias. Tem Mulher, Tô Lá was his last LP for CBS. While his 2nd and 3rd LPs on CBS did not quite reach the peak of O Dono Do Forró, there is plenty of gold on Tem Mulher, Tô Lá. In fact, Jackson sounds so vital, it is hard to believe that he would only live another 8 years.

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Tem Mulher, Tô Lá - CBS (1973)

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Côco Social from Os Donos Do Ritmo - Copacabana (1958)

Côco Social, from Jackson Do Pandeiro's rarest album from his 10" period, Os Donos Do Ritmo, is a great example of how Jackson could elevate a song that most others would make pedestrian. Côco Social is a côco rhythm, but grooves a bit like a marcha or a samba. Most songs recorded in a march style have aged badly. Jackson, almost without exception, knew how to rise above and create magic. 

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Os Donos Do Ritmo - Copacabana (1958)

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Boa Noite from Nortista Quatrocentão compacto - Columbia (1958)

Jackson Do Pandeiro's first compacto was a vinyl release of two 78rpm discs: Pacífico Pacato bw Tum-Tum-Tum and Nortista Quatrocentão bw Boa Noite. The song featured here is Boa Noite, which was later covered by Djalma Dias as Dono De Casa, Boa Noite and featured on this blog in 2013. This compacto is exceptionally scarce, and spun at 45rpm vs 33 1/3, which became the compacto standard in Brazil.

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Pai Orixá (batuque) from Os Donos Do Ritmo - Copacabana (1958)

Pai Orixá was originally released as a 78rpm single on Copacabana in 1957. Os Donos Do Ritmo is a 10" (10 polegadas) LP featuring Pai Orixá and seven other 78rpm sides. It is one of three Jackson Do Pandeiro 10" LPs released in the 1950s, along with his self-titled debut (1955) and Forró Do Jackson (1956). Os Donos Do Ritmo is the scarcest of the three releases, although Jackson Do Pandeiro was still extremely popular at the time. It is possible that Copacabana pressed fewer copies because Jackson moved to Columbia records in the late 1950s and the label was giving him less of a push. Pai Orixá is listed as batuque, or batucada, which is the specific type of rhythm used in the song. Labeling songs by rhythmic style was very common in Brazilian music through the 1960s. 

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Os Donos Do Ritmo - Copacabana (1958)

Os Ritmos do rei - Jackson do Pandeiro (The pandeiro rhythms of the king, Jackson do Pandeiro)

This beautifully produced video covers the intricate pandeiro rhythms of Jackson. It is amazing how complex the playing can be of a seemingly simple instrument. 

A translation from the YouTube description: 

The Rhythms of the Pandeiro is a collection of rhythms recorded by Jackson do Pandeiro from the perspective of various pandeiro masters from around the world, designed by the Museum of the 3 Pandeiros (MAPP / UEPB), in recognition of the centenary of the rhythm king, Jackson do Pandeiro. 08/31/19

The percussionists include: 

Marcos Suzano, Leo Rodrigues, Carlos Café, Gustavo di Dalva, Nacho Delgado, Emerson Taquari, Samir tarik, Ivison Santos, Túlio Araujo and Sandrinho Dupan

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Cumpadre João from Forró Do Jackson - Copacabana Som (1956)

Forró do Jackson*, the second album from Jackson do Pandeiro, collects some of Jackson's classic early 78rpms onto a handy, eight song 10" album. The 10" was reissued later as a 12" LP, with No Quebradinho (1958) removed and four different songs added from the 1950s. I chose a lesser known track called Cumpadre João, originally issued on 78rpm in 1958 as the b-side of Meu Enxoval. Both of these songs were available on the reissue but NOT the original 10", along with Forró Em Limoeiro (1953) and Cajueiro (1958). Confusing! 

Since all of these songs were relatively short, I am uncertain why songs were swapped and removed. Copacabana Som could have easily included more material. Thanks to several reissues, Forró Do Jackson, is one of the most common Jackson Do Pandeiro albums, although the 10", pressed in the 1950s only, is scarce.

*Note: Forró do Jackson and the 1971 CBS LP, O Donó Do Forró are entirely different LPs with material recorded at very different periods of Jackson do Pandeiro's career.

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Forró Do Jackson - Copacabana Som (1958)

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Vou Buscar Maria (rojão) from Jackson do Pandeiro - Columbia (1959)

Ah, the great Jackson do Pandeiro. He's the man Gilberto Gil called a genius also has the most substantial catalog in all of forró. Vou Buscar Maria comes from his self-titled 1959 Columbia LP. This wasn't one of his biggest hits, but is typical of his atypically excellent work. From Jackson, you often get all killer with no filler.

This particular pressing of the LP is bizarre. It appears to be a reissue on heavy vinyl, but the cover reproduction is unusual. Bootleg, perhaps? Alas, collectors, keep an eye out for reissues of all of Jackson's Columbia era material, although this 1959 album is far less common. His never-reissued Philips period remains his most coveted. 

Jackson Do Pandeiro - Jackson do Pandeiro - Columbia (1959)

Gordurinha - Chicletes Com Banana from 78rpm & Súplica Cearense LP - Continental (1959) Phonodisc (1987)

Chicletes Com Banana may be THE most famous song by Jackson do Pandeiro. The writing credit lists Almira Castilho, who was Jackson's wife. I do not believe that she was a songwriter, however. Jackson used Castilho as his pen name before they split up. The other writer listed is Gordurinha. His career was short and basically ended around the time of the Brazilian military coup in the early 1960s. Gordurinha's version is far less famous, but equally fantastic. Fortunately, the original 78rpm has been re-released on a number of compilations like the one below. While the LP is not rare, it is scarce outside of Brazil and well worth picking up.

Gordurinha - Súplica Cearense LP - Phonodisc (1987)

Jackson do Pandeiro & Almira - Vem Amor from São João Alegre - Philips (1962)

Vem Amor is, yet again, proof of the genius of Jackson do Pandeiro. If you know forró, you know Jackson. If you don't, welcome to a world of joy. Jackson do Pandeiro and a crew of talented folks, including Philips rostermates and collectible artists João Mello and Moura Junior, appeared on this one-off Philips compilation called São João Alegre in 1962. It is every bit as rare as albums by any of the aforementioned artists. It also happens to include fantastic songs by Jackson and Moura Jr. that only appeared here. While artists in the US and Europe had a b-side or two, the Brazilians had a knack for tucking some of their most amazing songs on compilations and compactos. Folks on the cover are dressed for the harvest, or São João, festival. 

Jackson do Pandeiro & Almira - Vem Amor from São João Alegre - Philips (1962)

São João Alegre - Philips (1962)

Azulão da Bahia / Jackson do Pandeiro - Minha Zebelê from Nossas Raizes - Alvorada (1974) & Tráz Elas Prá Cá - Tropicana Cantagalo (1975)

Jackson do Pandeiro often creates definitive interpretations of forró material through his brilliance with rhythm, melodic variation and arrangement. Minha Zebelê is an exception. I prefer Azulão da Bahia's recording from one year later. Even through a somewhat thin mix, Azulão da Bahia manages to find a melodic edge, energy and joy in the song that surpasses Jackson do Pandeiro's. 

Azulão da Bahia - Minha Zebelê from Tráz Elas Prá Cá - Tropicana Cantagalo (1975)

Jackson do Pandeiro - Minha Zabelé from Nossas Raizes - Alvorada (1974)

Azulão da Bahia - Tráz Elas Prá Cá - Tropicana Cantagalo (1975)

Jackson do Pandeiro - Nossas Raizes - Alvorada (1974)

Jackson do Pandeiro - A Estória Do Anel from Cantigas Do São Francisco compacto duplo - Chantecler (1977)

A Estória Do Anel is another great track from very late in Jackson's career. His CBS period, from a few years before, may have been his peak, but Jackson had plenty of great songs and hidden gems from his later albums as well. This is pulled from the Cantigas Do São Francisco LP, which was also released as a scarce radio-only 4 track compacto. I am curious if the water fountain from this iconic cover is the same one from Walmir Silva's LP.

Jackson do Pandeiro - A Estória Do Anel from Cantigas Do São Francisco compacto duplo - Chantecler (1977)

Jackson do Pandeiro - Cantigas Do São Francisco compacto duplo - Chantecler (1977)

Jackson do Pandeiro - Cantigas Do São Francisco compacto duplo - Chantecler (1977) with Walmir Silva

Rare Forró Documentary in English & Portuguese - Luiz Gonzaga, Azulão & Jackson Do Pandeiro

Thanks to Fabio Nettekoven, I was lucky enough to snag a short video about forró from a Brazilian music documentary that originally aired on the BBC 4, featuring Luiz Gonzaga from later life, Azulão and Jackson do Pandeiro, along with interviews with Siba, Azulão, DJ Dolores and Paulo Andre Pires. They do a pretty good job capturing the setting and describing the meaning of forró to the people of the Northeast.  

Siba says that Luiz Gonzaga is like Bob Marley. I find this analogy problematic. One, Bob Marley was an international superstar who carried the sound of reggae to a mainstream audience in multiple countries. Although Gonzaga was a massive star and cultural icon in Brazil, forró has never reached an international mainstream audience. Of all of the interviewees, Paulo Andre Pires' observations are the most accurate. If anything, Carmen Miranda is more like Bob Marley. They both delivered the cleanest, poppiest versions of their artforms, reggae and samba, to the rest of the world. They both spoke English. Luiz Gonzaga did not. Two, Luiz Gonzaga is credited for creating the genres of baião and forró. Gonzaga created the forró group combo: triangle, accordion, vocals and zabumba. Bob Marley did not invent reggae or the type of band to play it. He only popularized it. That is not to diminish Marley's or Carmen Miranda's contributions, but Luiz Gonzaga almost single-handedly invented their genre of music that is still popular 70 years after he first appeared on the radio. Like I said in my first post on this blog back in 2012 (I might have lifted this from someone, but I don't know who): In terms of influence, Luiz Gonzaga is to Brazil like Alan Lomax, Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly are combined in the US. Even my analogy is flawed. 

The other piece that is missing from this documentary is how many other artists there are who have made great and influential recordings other than Gonzaga and Jackson. Azulão, for example, is an accomplished artist in his own right, with a sizable catalog of recordings. In the documentary, Azulão seems like some random dude they pulled out of a house to sing a Gonzaga cover. Since Gonzaga launched the revolution in the 1940s, there have been thousands of forró 78s, LPs, 10"s, compactos, CDs and tapes released in Brazil; perhaps more than 100,000. It is great to start with Jackson and Gonzaga, but if you get interested in forró, those guys are at the peak of one massive iceberg.

Rare Forró Documentary in English & Portuguese - Luiz Gonzaga, Azulão & Jackson Do Pandeiro

Jackson do Pandeiro - Frevo Do Tri from compacto simples - Continental (1970)

I have spent the last few weeks transferring lots of new goodies for the blog, so stay tuned! 

Frevo Do Tri is a non-album compacto cooker from Mr. Jackson do Pandeiro. 1970 was a busy year for Jackson, with releases on Copacabana, Continental, Philips and Fontana. Songs appeared in a range of styles including frevos, marchas and the tasty buffet of forró. Frevo Do Tri is a sequel to Frevo Do Bi, released by Jackson on a Philips 78rpm in 1962.

Jackson do Pandeiro - Frevo Do Tri from compacto simples - Continental (1970)

Jackson do Pandeiro - Frevo Do Tri from compacto simples - Continental (1970)

Jackson do Pandeiro - A Mulher Do Anibal from Aqui Tô Eu compacto simples Angola / Angolan Pressing - Philips (1970)

One of my first posts in ForróLPGringo was Aqui Tô Eu, by Jackson Do Pandeiro. That LP sometimes makes it out of Brazil, thanks to songs on the LP popularized by Gilberto Gil.

Diggers can occasionally score forró record pressed in Portugal with alternate artwork, but this is the first one that I've found from Angola. The cover features a 2-tone facsimile of the Aqui Tô Eu album cover with 2 songs from the LP. The tunes play at 45rpm vs. the standard Brazilian compacto 33 1/3 speed. Hopefully, other interesting forró records from Angola will surface in the coming years. 

Jackson do Pandeiro - A Mulher Do Anibal from Aqui Tô Eu compacto simples Angola / Angolan Pressing - Philips (1970)

Jackson do Pandeiro - A Mulher Do Anibal from Aqui Tô Eu compacto simples Angola - Philips (1970)

Jackson do Pandeiro - Aqui Tô Eu - Philips (1970)

Jackson do Pandeiro - O Povo Falou from O Sucesso Do Momento - Philips (1960)

Jackson do Pandeiro - O Povo Falou from O Sucesso Do Momento - Philips (1960)

After about 6 years on Columbia and multiple classic records, Jackson do Pandeiro and his wife, Almira Castilho moved to Philips and were poised to take over the world... or at least Brazil. Almira appeared in at least 8 films in the 1950s and 1960s. She was also credited with writing many of Jackson's classic songs, but it was actually Jackson using her as a pseudonym. O Sucesso Do Momento was a promotional only compacto. Why it wasn't available officially, like many compactos from Brazil full of excellent exclusive material, is a mystery unique to the music business of Brazil. Additionally, it's a mystery that Jackson's Philips catalog has never been reissued. Perhaps the resurgence of interest in forró happened well after an exhaustive CD reissue program would have been profitable. 

Jackson do Pandeiro - O Povo Falou from O Sucesso Do Momento - Philips (1960)

Jackson do Pandeiro - O Sucesso Do Momento - Philips (1960)

Jackson do Pandeiro E Almira - Samba Do Birim-Bim-Bim from compacto duplo Tem Jebaculé - Philips (1964)

Jackson do Pandeiro E Almira - Samba Do Birim-Bim-Bim from compacto duplo Tem Jebaculé - Philips (1964)

Jackson do Pandeiro and Almira Castilho's Tem Jebaculé is a splashy, classy, beautifully produced LP with one of the greatest covers of all time. The pair is wearing their nightclub finest, but the hats, once worn by the bandit Lampião and later by Luiz Gonzaga, are a nod to the Northeast and their forró roots. 1964 seems to be the beginning of the decline of Jackson and Almira's fame. Although the musical quality remains high, their LPs start including more samba numbers, perhaps indicating a desire to become a more all-around act vs. strictly forró or côco. Since sales numbers are buried in the Philips vaults or lost, I am guessing that sales were diminishing due to the scarcity of mid-60s Jackson LPs. It's probably not a coincidence that the decline coincided with military removal of president João Goulart in 1964. It was a rough year in Brazil.

This transfer of Samba Do Birim-Bim-Bim comes from the even scarcer Tem Jebaculé promotional EP, released to radio stations only with the same distinct cover as the LP, but is compacto-sized featuring 4 tracks. Dig the distinctive trombone break!

Jackson do Pandeiro E Almira -  Tem Jebaculé compacto duplo - Philips (1964)

Review: Jackson do Pandeiro - Falso Toureiro from Ao Vivo - Discobertas (1980 2011)

Review: Jackson do Pandeiro - Falso Toureiro from Ao Vivo - Discobertas (1980 2011)


This is a nice surprise! Discobertas uncovered a live recording of Jackson do Pandeiro with Borborema from 1980. The first six tracks were mastered from cassette. It's likely that this was recorded through the soundboard or with a semi-professional setup. Although it doesn't have the bottom end of a super pro recording, it's a fantastic performance and definitely better than most live TV clips floating around on YouTube.Tracks 7-11 are studio tracks that came from two hard-to-find compilation LPs: 100 Anos de MPB (Banco do Brasil, 1976) and a Carnaval LP: Rio, Carnaval e Turismo (Esquema, 1976).

For Jackson do Pandeiro fans, this is well worth purchasing! Even better, for buyers in the US and Europe, less expensive copies have been cropping up on Amazon and eBay lately. Buy it and support Discobertas!

Jackson do Pandeiro - Ao Vivo CD 2011 Discobertas

Camarão E Seu Acordeon - Canto Da Siriema & Não Atrapalha from Forró No Palhoção - Tropicana (1976)

Camarão E Seu Acordeon - Canto Da Siriema & Não Atrapalha from Forró No Palhoção - Tropicana (1976) & Jackson do Pandeiro - Madelena from O Dono Do Forró - CBS (1971)

There are a myriad of brilliant forró artists. Some, like Camarão had a fruitful career and the recorded output of others, like José Bezerra, had an output limited to one great LP. Hidden in the credits are brilliant songwriters who never recorded, but contributed to great forró records. Madelena, from Jackson do Pandeiro's O Dono Do Forró is one of my favorite tracks. It was written by Juarez Santiago and José Sales, who also contributed to Camarão's Forró No Palhoção LP. While Canto Da Siriema is gutsy and clearly reminiscent of Madelena, the interpretation of the 2 songs is starkly different. Jackson's instrumentation and melodic excellence is an interesting contrast to Camarão's style, who favored ferocity to get the party started. The stylistic writing is apparent in both. Não Atrapalha, written by Camarão and Juarez Santiago, is an instrumental at breakneck speed.

Camarão E Seu Acordeon - Canto Da Siriema (Juarez Santiago and José Sales) - Tropicana (1976)

 

Jackson do Pandeiro - Madelena (Juarez Santiago and José Sales) from O Dono Do Forró - CBS (1971)

Camarão E Seu Acordeon - Não Atrapalha from Forró No Palhoção - Tropicana (1976)

Camarão E Seu Acordeon - Forró No Palhoção - Tropicana (1976)

Forró On CD - Brazil Classics 3, Ary Lobo, Marinês e Sua Gente, Luiz Gonzaga, Jackson do Pandeiro, Genival Lacerda, Jacinto Silva & Os 3 Do Nordeste

Forró On CD

ForróLPGringo is 2 years old!

I discovered forró about 7 years ago. If forró got the royal treatment on CD, like 60s and 70s rock has in the US and UK, I probably never would have started this blog. Alas, there is a dearth of information about this great genre and, most importantly, vintage forró music, in general, is heavily underrepresented in digital form. The almost total lack of availability of forró on CDs led me to seeking the original vinyl. Hopefully, my archiving efforts will turn a few people onto this great music. That said, a few artists have some noteworthy CDs worth snatching up. In fact, some of these CDs are as scarce as the vintage vinyl.

Brazil Classics 3 - forró

I am eternally grateful to Luaka Bop and David Byrne for this compilation. I recently discovered that this was released on vinyl in a few countries. My copy comes from Brazil, but it was also issued in Germany. Although it does not feature the cream of every featured artist's catalog, it was a fine enough starter to peak my interest.

Brazil Classics 3 - forró CD and vinyl LP

Ary Lobo

Ary Lobo was amazing and his work sounds as incredible today as it was the day it was recorded. Ary's 2 major labels in the 50s and 60s were RCA and Cantagalo. Nothing from Cantagalo, his late 60s label, has been reissued. Of Ary Lobo's RCA catalog, 5 random albums out of 9 were reissued. Although it's a shame that his entire RCA catalog did not get re-released, which includes many compactos (singles and EPs) that were not on the LPs, the CDs that were released sound fantastic. The Brazil Popular compilation includes random songs from his RCA catalog and a few tunes released by Lobo in the 1970s.

RCA period:

• 1958 - Último Pau de Arara - RCA (10" LP) - never reissued
• 1958 - Forró com Ary Lobo - RCA (LP)
• 1960 - Aqui Mora o Ritmo - RCA (LP) - never reissued
• 1961 - Cheguei Na Lua - RCA (LP)
• 1962 - Ary Lobo - RCA (LP)
• 1963 - Poeira de Ritmos - RCA (LP)
• 1964 - Forró em Calcaia - RCA (LP) - never reissued
• 1965 - Zé Mané - RCA (LP)
• 1966 - Quem é o Campeão? - RCA (LP) - never reissued

Ary Lobo - História De Um Órfão from Poeira De Ritmos - RCA Victor (1963)

Ary Lobo on CD

Marinês E Sua Gente

Marinés also has a vast catalog. She was lucky enough to record for 2 of the best major labels in the 60s and 70s, RCA and CBS. Some songs from her fantastic CBS period have ended up on random CD compilations like Maxximum. Her RCA catalog, with the exception of the first LP she recorded after leaving Sinter and some compactos (singles), were beautifully reissued on CD.

RCA period:

• Marinês e Sua Gente (1960) RCA LP - never reissued
• O Nordeste e seu ritmo (1961) RCA LP
• Coisas do Norte (1963) RCA LP
• Siu, siu, siu (1964) RCA LP
• Maria Coisa (1965) RCA LP
• Meu benzim (1966) RCA LP

Marinês e Sua Gente RCA catalog on CD

Luiz Gonzaga

It is unsurprising that Luiz Gonzaga has gotten the best CD treatment, since he is effectively the king of forró and baião, credited as launching the genre. Although his RCA CDs were reissued with versions of the original artwork, his EMI Odeon work has appeared on a few random compilations. I still haven't picked up all of his work on CD, although what I have found sounds excellent. Again, bravo to RCA for taking the time to do this well.

Luiz Gonzaga on CD

Jackson do Pandeiro

Poor Jackson. Arguably, the most influential forró artist has appeared on multiple weird compilation CDs. Some of the CDs are quite good. 20 Super Sucessos has a shite cover but is a decent overview of his CBS years. 50 anos de ritmos seems like it would be comprehensive based on the title, but it only features his earliest pre-1962 Copacabana work. Although those songs are fine, it's arguable that his 1960 Philips through 1970s CBS period was better. The Jackson and Jacinto Silva Brasil Popular compilation is great... except it only features 13 songs. It short-changes Jackson, Jacinto and the buyer. It's worth buying for the Jacinto Silva songs alone, who does not have any other reissues. As far as I am aware, there are no legitimate reissues featuring any of Jackson's original albums with artwork.

Jackson do Pandeiro on CD

Elino Julião, Messias Holanda, Trio Nordestino, Os 3 Do Nordeste, Genival Lacerda and Zenilton

The Brasil Popular Os 3 Do Nordeste, 20 Super Sucessos and A Popularidade de Genival Lacerda CDs are great and well worth hunting down. Most of the other compilations don't serve the artists particularly well. Generally speaking, I hate the Raizes Nordestinas series. For some reason, those are almost always disappointing.

Elino Julião, Messias Holanda, Trio Nordestino, Os 3 Do Nordeste, Genival Lacerda and Zenilton on CD