Hermeto Pascoal: A Musical Genius Transcends

At 89, Hermeto Pascoal has returned to the ether.

It was with a heavy heart that I learned of Hermeto Pascoal’s passing on 13 September 2025. From now on, I make a promise to myself: never again miss the chance to witness the performances of legends while they are still among us.

Nicknamed “O Bruxo” (The Sorcerer), Hermeto was a composer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and improviser who changed the way we think about sound itself. He believed music was everywhere, water, wind, pots, pans, animals, silence. His fearless approach made him both a cult figure in Brazil and a revered innovator across the globe.

For me, Hermeto was more than a musician. He embodied the idea that music is medicine, and that every element of nature can be transformed into song. In his work, I hear the path I’ve always longed to explore: dissolving the boundary between nature and sound.

One performance that captures this spirit is this video above☝︎, where he turns water and wind into pure music. It is not just a performance, it is communion.

For those wanting to step into his world, two recordings remain timeless entry points:

• Slaves Mass (1977), a groundbreaking solo project blending Brazilian folklore, jazz, and avant-garde experimentation.

• Hermeto Pascoal e Grupo (1982), capturing the explosive creativity of his ensemble at its peak, where chaos and beauty meet.

• Viajando com o som (2017), a long-lost treasure (recorded in 1976),where Hermeto’s vision of boundless improvisation meets Brazilian soul.

• Pra Você, Ilza (2024), his final gift before his departure, released just last year, showing that even at the end of his journey, Hermeto was still reaching for the infinite. Cute fact, it was dedicated to Ilza, his wife of over forty years.

Hermeto often said he composed for the universe, not just for audiences. Now, at 89, he has returned to the ether. Yet his music remains with us, a reminder to listen closely, and the world will sing back.

A note from Nane:
I was nervous about writing my first post, but Hermeto’s passing gave me the push I needed. His music has been such an inspiration for me, it really supported my belief in hearing sound and music in everything in nature. I’m so happy to finally share this here, and I hope it touches you the way it has touched me.

Nane 💛