Orquestra Imperial | |
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| Origin | Rio de Janeiro Brazil |
| Genres | Gafiera Big Band Samba Brazilian |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Som LivreTotolo |
| Members | Bartolo,Berna Ceppas, Bidu, Bodão,Domenico Lancellotti,Felipe Pinaud,Kassin,Leo Monteiro,Mauro Zacharias,Max Sete,Moreno Veloso,Nélson Jacobina,Nina Becker,Pedro Sá,Rodrigo Amarante,Rubinho Jacobina,Stephane San Juan,Thalma de Freitas,Wilson das Neves |
| Website | http://orquestraimperial.com.br/ |
Orquestra Imperial is a Brazilian Big Band formed in 2002 with the objective of recreating the typicalGafieira Samba sound. The group brought together notable names from the newCarioca pop scene such asRodrigo Amarante (from the groupLos Hermanos),Moreno Veloso,Domenico Lancellotti andKassin (from the +2 project),Nina Becker,Thalma de Freitas,Max Sette andRubinho Jacobina with experienced musicians likeNélson Jacobina (the composer of the Império Serrana) and the samba percussionist and singerWilson das Neves. Other musicians who have contributed to the Orquestra includeBerna Ceppas,Rodrigo Bartolo (who plays withArnaldo Antunes andDuplexx),Pedro Sá (Caetano Veloso’s guitarist),Bidu Cordeiro (who accompanied theParalamas do Sucesso andReggae B) andDJ Marlboro who has gained the title of official Orquestra Imperial DJ.
The project began initially with the aim of performing a show in the defunct Ballroom venue inRio de Janeiro and was started byBerna Ceppas,Kassin andSeu Jorge. With time, new members such asNina Becker joined the Orquestra after first performing live with them. The bands repertoire consisted of classic samba tunes and unusual covers such asVem Fazer Glu-glu originally sung by the presenterSergio Mallandro, andOwner of a Lonely Heart by English progressive rock groupYes. They also played unknown compositions likeArtista é o Caralho byRubinho Jacobina andGomalina, byMax Sete. They occasionally invited guests on stage and these have includedEd Motta,Marcelo Camelo,Fernanda Abreu,Andreas Kisser,Elza Soares amongst others. One of the causes of Orquestra Imperial’s success was the presence ofRodrigo Amarante, guitarist and vocalist of the rock bandLos Hermanos, who introduced fans of his band to the Orquestra and helped to popularise the Orquestra on the alternative scene.
In 2006 the band recorded an EP consisting of three recordings and an instrumental track:Me Deixa Em Paz, Obsessão, Popcorn andSem Compromisso. In the same year their first albumCarnaval Só Ano Que Vem, was recorded and distributed by the Brazilian labelSom Livre. In 2006, they became known in the international scene, appearing in Portugal at theFestival do Sudoeste, and their first US tour playing venues such asMontclair State University, in New Jersey and Chicago’sMillennium Park. In February 2006 they also participated alongsideCaetano Veloso and other Brazilian acts at theTropicalismo festival to celebrate theTropicália movement in 1960s Brazil.
Carnaval Só No Ano Que Vem was released internationally on 8 October by Totolo. The band also appeared as a backing band on Bebel Gilberto's 2007 album Momento, playing on the songTranquilo written byKassin.[1] Orquestra Imperial have since played many shows in Brazil and were featured on theBBC Four documentary Brasil Brasil which aired in November 2007 and charted the history ofBrazilian music.
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