Baden Powell de Aquino, to give him his full name, was a Brazilian musician and composer born in 1937 and named by his father after the founder of the Scouting movement.
Known professionally (if confusingly) as Baden Powell, he took up guitar at an early age, training with celebrated exponents of samba and choros such as Jayme Florence (also known as Meira), Raphael Rabello and Maurício Carrilho. In 1959 he recorded his first solo album, and in 1960 the bossa nova poet and lyricist Vinicius de Moares attended one of his concerts and was impressed.
Their collaboration launched Baden Powell onto the international stage, and he went on to appear at the most celebrated jazz festivals in Europe and North America, as well as making many more albums.
Later in life, he retired to Rio de Janeiro and died there in 2000.
Baden Powell fused native and European idioms in a unique crossover style which brought together samba, folk song, choros, bossa nova and jazz. The published versions of his pieces are transcriptions of his own recordings. This presents a challenge for any new interpreter; how to remain faithful to Baden Powell’s text and creative personality while also staying true to the essentially personal and improvisatory nature of the idiom?
In these studio-made recordings from May 2024, the Italian guitarist Andrea Monarda enthusiastically takes up this challenge, channelling the spirit of Baden Powell through his own free adaptations of 18 pieces from the published songbooks, amounting to ‘an interpretation of an interpretation’.
His choice of songs covers roughly a decade of Baden Powell’s career, from the early 60s to the 70s, when his reputation and his inspiration were at their height.
- Baden Powell de Aquino (1937-2000) was one of the best known and most influential guitarists and composers of his native Brazil. Known for his seamless blend of classical technique and Brazilian musical traditions, Baden-Powell’s songbook is a treasure trove for guitarists seeking to explore the depths of Brazilian music.
- The songbook reflects the rich diversity of Brazil’s musical heritage, combining samba, bossa nova, choro, and Afro-Brazilian rhythms with classical influences. It shows Baden Powell’s ability to convey emotion through intricate melodies and innovative harmonies. Pieces like “Samba Triste” and “Berimbau” capture the rhythmic vitality of samba, while works such as “Apelo” and “Manhã de Carnaval” reveal his lyrical sensitivity.
- Baden Powell’s compositions often challenge guitarists with their technical demands, requiring precision, dexterity, and a deep understanding of Brazilian rhythm and phrasing. His use of alternate tunings and complex chord voicings expands the expressive possibilities of the guitar, making his songbook a cornerstone for advanced players.
- Played with rich colors and immense joy by Italian guitarist Andrea Monarda, about whom Ennio Morricone said: “I am truly grateful to Andrea Monarda for his precise analysis of my Quattro pezzi for guitar. I am grateful for the attention and the experience of the brilliant professional who, with his sensitive interpretation, ‘discovered’ the secret intentions of the composer.” Monarda previously issued recordings with guitar works by Mignone and Gnattali.
