Spok Frevo

Launched in December 2004 and funded by Funcultura/State of Pernambuco (Brazil), SpokFrevo Orquestras first album, Passo de Anjo (Via Som Records), was considered by industry critics the beginning of a new era in the history of frevo. In 2005, the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper classified the CD among the best three albums of the year. In addition, according to the newspaper O Globo, SpokFrevo Orquestras concert at the TIM Festival was among the best 10 concerts of the year, out of all other concerts performed in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 2005. The CD has eleven tracks with adaptations of old hits of the traditional rhythm as well as new compositions such as Ela Me Disse by Luciano Oliveira and Passo de Anjo by Spok and Joao Lyra. Among of the classic frevo compositions re-recorded with jazzy arrangements is the song Nino, O Pernambuquinho, a work created by Maestro Duda in 1972 that after the re-recording, was turned into a video-clip broadcasted on TV Globos show Fantastico during the 2005 Carnival. The album also includes Mexe com Tudo and Lagrima de Foliao, both by Levino Ferreira, and Frevo Sanfonado by Sivuca and Glorinha Gadelha. Now, with all this fame and sale of more than 10 thousand units, in an independent way, the CD Passo de Anjo was relauched by Biscoito Fino Records in november of last year. The album is already for sale in specialized stores of the whole country and abroad, remasterized and in a fine digipac packing. At the Carnival of 2007, year in which the Centenary of Frevo is celebrated, the SpokFrevo Orchestra didnt stop, presenting great concerts during the four days of festivities. The first day has gathered thousands of people at the arrival of Galo da Madrugada, in front of the stage built at Guararapes Avenue, in Recife. Repeating the sucess of last years, the SpokFrevo Orchestra has kept the partnership with the singer Elba Ramalho, this time presenting three thrilling concerts at the entertainment points spread around the city. Another highlight of the Carnival has been the brand new concert with the singer Gal Costa, presenting a repertoire based on the frevos recorded by the singer during her career, including the song Frevo from Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. Gal and the SpokFrevo Orchestra have attracted a great crowd to Marco Zero Square, in one of the most beautiful shows of the four days of Carnival.

Passo de Anjo

SpokFrevo Orquestra arose in 1996, initially with the name Banda Pernambucana. Later it became the Orquestra de Frevo do Recife, formed to accompany the concerts of Antonio Carlos Nobrega and Chico Science & Nacao Zumbi. With the multiartist Nobrega, the group, which by that time was smaller than it is today, managed to participate in the album Na Pancada do Ganza. In this trajectory, they toured in Portugal, France and Austria. In January 2003, the group reappeared with the name SpokFrevo Orquestra, name proposed by Wellington de Lima, who since then became the bands agent and artistic producer, and in partnership with the musician and artistic producer Ze da Flauta. The orchestra proposes to give frevo a different treatment with modern arrangements and refined harmonies. The musicians exploit the freedom of expression in improvisations with clear influence from the jazz. Frevo is a unique rhythm, different from all others, cheerful and with a special magic: the one to transmit happiness, Spok explains. The band, now with 18 young and talented Pernambuco musicians, is leaded by the virtuous Inaldo Cavalcante de Albuquerque, also known as conductor Spok who accumulates the roles of saxophonist, arranger and music director. To head this frevo big band, Spok has been counting on the experience and talent of his cousin Gilberto Pontes (also know as Gibasax) as music co-director, since the bands original formation.

SPOK

SPOK today is one of the most respected artists in Pernambuco and one of the most celebrated musicians of the new Brazilian musical scene. For more than ten years, the saxophonist has been spliting his time as instrument player, music arranger and music director of SpokFrevo Orquestra, and is often invited for special participations in bands of big Brazilian artists such as Fagner, Alceu Valenca, Antonio Carlos Nobrega, Elba Ramalho, Nana Vasconcelos and Sivuca. He started his career in music at 12 years of age influenced by his uncle and cousin (Gibasax), both saxophonists. He was trained at the Center for Music Creativity of Recife (Centro de Criatividade Musical do Recife). This year, for the second time in a row, he led the Closing Apotheosis of the citys Carnival. He created the Orquestrao Multicultural (Big Orchestra) composed by more than 150 musicians and with the contributions of 10 other reknowned conductors of Frevo. On this occasion, the singers Lenine, Alceu Valenca, Claudionor Germano, Lula Queiroga, Moraes Moreira, Silverio Pessoa, Ze Renato, Gal Costa and the saxophonist Leo G