Marcos Resende & Index – Marcos Resende & Index (Far Out Recordings, 2021)
Far Out Recordings released this Brazilian gem in 2021. Marcos Resende & Index was a highly talented artist in the field of Brazilian progressive jazz. Marcos Resende & Index group played a captivating mix of instrumental progressive fusion inspired by Return to Forever and Latin American rhythms from Brazil and Cuba.
On the self-titled “Marcos Resende & Index” you’ll find exquisite slow tempo pieces with crystalline electric piano, futuristic synth layers, cool percussion and delightful flute performances along with fast-paced dazzling keyboard improvisations, creative bass lines and a rich palette of percussion enhanced with brass and electric guitar performances.
Marcos Resende was born in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, in eastern Brazil, in 1947. He was a prodigious child who learned to play the accordion at the age of two, and the piano at six.
In spite of his tremendous musical potential, he traveled to Lisbon, Portugal, in the 1960s to study medicine. Nevertheless, he continued to explore his musical passion on the side. Marcos formed a trio which went on to open for Dexter Gordon at the Cascais Jazz Festival in 1971. After that, he formed the electronic oriented progressive jazz group Status that opened shows for Elton John, Phil Woods, Stan Getz, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers.
Established as a highly regarded keyboardist, composer, and innovative electronic musician, Resende returned home to Brazil following Portugal’s Revolução dos Cravos in 1974. Inspired by the American jazz and British progressive rock he had experienced while living in Europe, Resende acquired an impressive keyboard array that included the Prophet 5, Yamaha CP-708 and Mini Moog.
Determined to combine his newfound inspirations with Brazilian rhythms and jazz traditions, he formed a new quartet with Rubão Sabino (bass), Claudio Caribé (drums) and the late great Oberdan Magalhães, of Banda Black Rio and Cry Babies.
Marcos Resende & Index recorded their self-titled debut at Sonoviso Studios in 1976 with respected sound engineer Toninho Barbosa.
At the time of recording, Resende had hoped to release the album on the prestigious CTI Records, the deal never happened, and the album was archived by Marcos who had other priorities working with Gilberto Gil, Edu Lobo, Gal Costa and Carlos Dafé, as well as making music for TV and film.
Thankfully, Marcos kept the tapes from the Sonoviso sessions safe and presented them to Far Out’s Joe Davis at his home in Lisbon in 2018, but only after 25 years of Joe pleading to hear them.
Marcos worked closely with the Far Out label team restoring these recordings over two years, but tragically passed away after a battle with stomach cancer on November 12, 2020, at the age of 73, only a matter of weeks before the album was due to be unveiled to the world.
With the blessing of his family who wished to honor his memory by ensuring these historic recordings saw the light of day, Marcos Resende & Index became available on vinyl, CD and digital formats on January 29, 2021.
Get the album at Bandcamp