Arthur Verocai
Birth nameArthur Cortes Verocai
Birth dateJune 17, 1945 (age 81)[1]
Birth placeRio de Janeiro, Brazil
InstrumentGuitar · piano · vocals[2]
GenreBossa nova · soul · jazz · Latin jazz
OccupationComposer · guitarist · record producer
Years active1969–present[3]
LabelContinental · Far Out Recordings · WEA International

Arthur Côrtes Verocai[4] (born June 17, 1945) is a Brazilian composer, singer, and producer. He is best known for his 1972 self-titled debut album which garnered a cult following during the 2000s in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Career

Arthur Cortes Verocai was born in Rio de Janeiro on June 17, 1945. In school, he studied civil engineering. After graduating in 1968, he began arranging music under the mentorship of Roberto Menescal for artists like Jorge Ben, Gal Costa, Elis Regina, Ivan Lins, Marcos Valle, Quarteto em Cy, O Terço, Leny Andrade, and Célia.[5][6]

In 1972, Verocai released his debut self-titled album which he describes as "samba mixed with soul."[7] It contrasted with the music of Tim Maia, who pioneered the sound of Brazilian soul at the time.[8] Verocai's influences for the album were anywhere from jazz musicians like Miles Davis, Bill Evans, and Wes Montgomery to classical artists like Debussy and Heitor Villa-Lobos to American funk and rock musicians like Chicago, Frank Zappa, and Jimmy Webb.[5][9] Verocai has described himself as "a son of bossa,"[10] and was highly influenced by the bossa nova pieces of composers and singers like Tom Jobim and Leny Andrade which can be seen especially on tracks "Velho Parente" and "Que Mapa."[11][12]

The album was largely ignored in Brazil when it was released which led Verocai to stop composing for 30 years and switch to arranging jingles for advertising instead. However, in the 2000s, the album started to achieve a cult-status, with some original vinyl copies selling for £2,000.[13][14] In 2009, he performed his 1972 album with a 30-piece orchestra at California State University's Luckman Theater in Los Angeles.[15][16]

After the resurgence of his 1972 album, Verocai got back to composing, releasing the album Encore in 2007,[17] No Vôo do Urubu in 2016,[18] and collaborations with acts such as BadBadNotGood, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Gal Costa.

Influence

Verocai has been cited as an influence by TV on the Radio, Cut Chemist, MF Doom, Madlib, and BadBadNotGood.[19]

His work was sampled by multiple artists such as Ludacris (Do The Right Thang, 2008), Curren$y (Can't Get Out, 2013), Action Bronson (The Spark, 2013) or Marcelo D2. [20]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details
TitleDetails
Arthur Verocai
  • Released: 1972[21]
  • Label: Continental
Saudade Demais
  • Released: 2002[22]
  • Label: Independent release
Encore
No Voo do Urubu
  • Released: 2016[24]
  • Label: Selo SESC SP[25]

Live albums

List of live albums, with selected details
TitleDetails
Timeless
  • Released: March 30, 2010[26]
  • Recorded: March 15, 2009
  • Label: Mochilla

References

  1. ^ "Arthur Verocai Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  2. ^ "Arthur Verocai". Red Bull Music Academy. 2006. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  3. ^ "Arthur Verocai". Ubiquity Records. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  4. ^ Araújo, Peu (2015-08-11). "Arthur Verocai fala sobre seu clássico disco de 1972, pérola redescoberta pelo rap". VICE. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
  5. ^ "Arthur Verocai". Far Out Recordings. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  6. ^ "Brazilian musician Arthur Verocai on his late-blossoming career: 'I wanted to run away from myself'". The Guardian. 2022-04-06. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  7. ^ "Sunday show preview: The timelessness of Arthur Verocai". LA Times Blogs - Pop & Hiss. 2009-03-13. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  8. ^ "Arthur Verocai". www.redbullmusicacademy.com. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  9. ^ "Review". Songlines. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  10. ^ "Arthur Verocai fala sobre seu clássico disco de 1972, pérola redescoberta pelo rap" (in Portuguese). Vice.com. August 11, 2015. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  11. ^ "Arthur Verocai - Closest Brazilian comparisons would be to Tim Maia and Jorge Ben. This unique recording has funk flavoringsand a touch of folk.". www.ubiquityrecords.com. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  12. ^ Park, Roger. "Arthur Verocai @ The Luckman 3/15/09". LAist. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  13. ^ "I Threw Everything Away: An Interview With Arthur Verocai". Sounds And Colors. August 4, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  14. ^ "Arthur Verocai – S.T.". In Sheep's Clothing. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
  15. ^ "The legend of Arthur Verocai". The Vinyl Factory. December 6, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  16. ^ "Arthur Verocai: Nothing To Do With Tropicalia". LA Record. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  17. ^ "Encore - Arthur Verocai". Far Out Recordings. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  18. ^ "No Vôo do Urubu - Arthur Verocai". Discogs. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  19. ^ "Arthur Verocai: Return Of A Brazilian Secret". NPR. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  20. ^ "Who Sampled: Arthur Verocai". Who Sampled. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  21. ^ "Arthur Verocai – Arthur Verocai". AllMusic. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  22. ^ "Arthur Verocai lança novo disco com participações de Criolo e Mano Brown". Música Brasileira. September 7, 2005. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  23. ^ "Arthur Verocai – Encore". AllMusic. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  24. ^ "Arthur Verocai lança novo disco com participações de Criolo e Mano Brown" (in Portuguese). UAI. December 18, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  25. ^ "No Voo do Urubu" (in Portuguese). Sesc São Paulo. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  26. ^ "Timeless by Arthur Verocai". Rate Your Music. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  27. ^ Legaspi, Althea (2021-03-17). "Hiatus Kaiyote Preview New Album With 'Get Sun'". Rolling Stone. Archived March 17, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  28. ^ "BadBadNotGood Announce New Album Talk Memory, Share Video for New Song". Pitchfork. 2021-07-15. Archived July 15, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  29. ^ "【特集】「学園アイドルマスター」川村玲奈（篠澤 広役）インタビュー――天才肌の広と向き合うなかで気づいた、未知の「光景」に踏み出す楽しさ" (in Japanese). lisani.jp. 2024-09-28. Retrieved 2025-12-29.