Hector Costita

Born in Buenos Aires in 1934, Hector 'Costita' Bisignani is one of the leading figures in Latin American jazz. Settling in São Paulo in the late 1950s, he quickly established himself as one of Brazil's most renowned flutists and saxophonists, collaborating with major artists such as Sérgio Mendes, Elis Regina, Hermeto Pascoal, João Donato, and Gato Barbieri. His career also led him to play alongside Michel Legrand, Lalo Schifrin, Burt Bacharach, and Ray Conniff, demonstrating his international influence. A founding member of Sérgio Mendes' Sexteto Bossa Rio, he contributed to the rise of Brazilian jazz by incorporating local rhythms and bold compositions. He is also renowned as a teacher, making him a respected figure for several generations of musicians. With a career spanning more than 70 years, he remains a pioneering figure in the history of Latin American jazz. 1981, now reissued, perfectly illustrates this creative freedom. Recorded in the exuberant spirit of the 1970s and 1980s, it blendsbaião,jazz-funk,andBraziliansoul.Ledbyhissaxophone,flute,and clarone,andbackedbyhisGalleryClubband,thisrarerecordingembodies the vibrant energy of a scene where experimentation and virtuosity went hand in hand.

“A killer and funky jazz album that remains largely unknown”
Gilles Peterson —