Sérgio Mendes, one of the greatest Brazilian and Latin Jazz artist-composers of our time, has passed away at the age of 83 due to health complications stemming from long COVID. In a statement to the Guardian, the Mendes family confirmed the passing of the music giant yesterday in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Born on February 11, 1941 in the city of Niterói in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Mendes developed a musical ear at a young age and went to the local conservatory in hopes of becoming a classical pianist. However, he developed a love for jazz music which inspired him to start playing in the nightclubs of Rio de Janeiro back in the 1950s. It was there that he was introduced to Bossa Nova, a sub-genre of Samba with influences of American Jazz. Mendes was a protege of Antônio Carlos Jobim, regarded as one of the originators of Bossa Nova.
In 1961, Mendes formed the quartet Sexteto Bossa Rio and released his debut album, Dance Moderno. He moved to Los Angeles in 1964 and formed another group Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’65 and would release two more albums with Capitol Records and Atlantic Records. Mendes’ music was exclusively performed in Portuguese but due to low album sales, he recruited American singers Lani Hall and Bibi Vogel, renamed the band Brasil’ 66 and released the album, Herb Alpert Presents Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66. The album included the crossover hit, “Mas que Nada,” considered to be the first Portuguese song to be a hit in America. One of their another hit single, a rendition of “The Look of Love,” was later remade by Canada’s own Diana Krall for her 2001 album The Look of Love.
Mendes would release over 40 albums over the course of his career and would collaborate with countless artists such as Herb Alpert, Black Eyed Peas, Stevie Wonder, India.Arie, Erykah Badu and many others.
JAZZ.FM91 had the utmost privilege to speak to Sérgio Mendes in September 2023 when he preparing for his October 2023 concert at Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls. He spoke with Cafe Latino host Laura Fernandez about his life and music in an interview featured below.
Mendes leaves behind his wife and musical partner of 54 years, Gracinha Leporace Mendes and five children. No funeral arrangements have been announced at this time.