Nave Mãe, a group of Hermeto Pascoal’s longtime collaborators, pays tribute to the Brazilian legend in a new concert airing April 12 on SescTV.
April’s lineup on Instrumental Sesc Brasil — SescTV’s flagship instrumental music program, airing Sundays at 9:30 PM — honors two of Brazil’s most compelling musical voices. On April 5, pianist Hércules Gomes shares the stage with Russian pianist Olga Kopylova. On April 12, the group Nave Mãe delivers a special tribute concert dedicated to the life and work of Hermeto Pascoal.
Keeping the Wizard’s music alive
Hermeto Pascoal, who passed away in 2025, was one of the most singular figures in world music. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improviser from the northeastern state of Alagoas, he spent more than six decades building a body of work that defied genre boundaries. His concepts — including Som da Aura (Aura Sound) and Música Universal (Universal Music) — drew on nature sounds, everyday objects, and unconventional instruments.
His discography spans more than 30 albums and thousands of compositions. Among his most celebrated international connections is his collaboration with Miles Davis, who recorded one of Hermeto’s pieces on the landmark album Live-Evil. Affectionately known as “O Bruxo” (The Wizard), Hermeto leaves a legacy that continues to inspire musicians around the world.
The April 12 concert brings together musicians who spent years creating alongside him. The Nave Mãe lineup features André Marques (piano), Fábio Pascoal (percussion), Ajurinã Zwarg (drums), Itiberê Zwarg (bass and tuba), and Jota P. (saxophones and flutes) — all veterans of international tours and recordings with the master.
The concert reveals how Hermeto’s music remains in motion — open to improvisation, invention, and the radical listening that always defined his work.
The repertoire spans different phases of Hermeto’s output, including iconic themes, lesser-known pieces, and recent compositions, many with arrangements conceived by the composer himself. This is not a farewell — it is a living celebration.
Hércules Gomes opens the month
On April 5, pianist Hércules Gomes — originally from Espírito Santo and recognized as one of the most expressive instrumentalists of his generation — performs alongside Russian pianist Olga Kopylova. The program blends original compositions with a dialogue rooted in the Brazilian piano tradition.
Gomes has performed with major orchestras including the Osesp, the Campinas Symphony Orchestra, and the Minas Gerais Symphony Orchestra. His albums — Pianismo, No Tempo de Chiquinha, Tia Amélia Para Sempre, and Sarau Tupynambá — reflect a deep commitment to Brazilian musical memory. In 2025, he performed in Bremen, Germany, as part of his Solo project, and was selected by Funarte for the Conexões Internacionais Brasil-França program, performing at the Club du Choro in Paris.
A program that preserves and propels
Recorded at Teatro Anchieta, inside Sesc Consolação in São Paulo, Instrumental Sesc Brasil has become one of the most important platforms for contemporary Brazilian instrumental music. April’s lineup reaffirms that mission: documenting musical encounters that honor the past while opening new paths forward.
Event Info
- Instrumental Sesc Brasil — SescTV
- Airs: Sundays at 9:30 PM (Brasília time)
- Reruns: Tuesdays at 12 PM and 6:30 PM; Thursdays at 1 AM; Fridays at 4:30 PM
- Rating: General Audiences
- Apr 5 — Hércules Gomes featuring Olga Kopylova
- Apr 12 — Grupo Nave Mãe – A Tribute to Hermeto Pascoal
- Check your local provider for SescTV availability
- Live stream: sesctv.org.br/noar
- On demand: sesctv.org.br/instrumental
- Social media: @sesctv
