Jazz Brazil: Dom Um Romão

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Dom was born in 1925 and in the 1940’s he was already on the road, playing in cabarets and dances in Rio de Janeiro. He worked in Rádio Tupi and, in the next decade, he formed the Copa Trio with Toninho (p) and Manuel Gusmão (b). Dom was often seen in the famous Beco das Garrafas, the carioca equivalent to New York’s 52nd Street. In 1958 he worked with Elizeth Cardoso, recording “Canção do amor demais”, a fundamental bossa nova album. In the 1960’s he formed the Brazilian Jazz Sextet, with pianist Sérgio Mendes, and they took part in the III South America Jazz Festival in Uruguay. In the same decade Dom was a member of Sexteto Bossa Rio, also with Sérgio Mendes, playing in Carnegie Hall and recording with saxophonist Cannonball Aderley. Tireless, he made several shows and recordings with J T Meirelles, Copa Trio, Dom Salvador, Quarteto Em Cy, his wife Flora Purim, besides Elis Regina’s first show, in Bottle’s. In 1964 he recorded the lp “Dom Um”, with arrangements by Paulo Moura and Waltel Branco.

Invited by Norman Granz, Dom went to the USA and played with Astrud Gilberto, Tony Bennett, Luís Bonfá, Frank Sinatra abd Tom Jobim. In 1966 Dom recorded “Fool on the hill” with Sérgio Mendes and his Brasil ’66. In the 1970’s he substituted for Airto Moreira in Weather Report’s scat, recording the classic “I sing the body electric”. Dom was also a member of the group Blood, Sweet & Tears. In the 1980’s Dom moved to Switxerland, playing in USA and European jazz’s festivals. In the 1990’s he was involved in the projects “O som das águas” in Praia do Arpoador and “Quintas musicais” in Casa de cultura Laura Alvim. Always active, in the last five years of his life Dom worked with Jorge Pescara, Paula Faour, Eumir Deodato, Danilo Caymmi, Marcelo Salazar, Luciano Alves, Zé Bigorna, Lord K, Teddy Kumpel, recording tunes by composers ranging from Pixinguinha to John Coltrane. Percussionist Dom Um Romão died on July 26, 2005, in Rio de Janeiro. If you are curious about Dom’s sound, click below to hear Vivo sonhando, Fica mal com Deus, Consolação, Samba Nagô and África.