National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

In recognition of Brazilian Independence Day, musicians from widely divergent cultural and musical traditions will come together in New York's Merkin Hall stage to celebrate one of the most important Brazilian composers living today, Hermeto Pascoal.

Now in his 70th year, "the Sorcerer" is one of the most prolific composers, with an estimated 2,500 works in his book. Often using non-conventional instruments such as teapots, children's toys and sometimes animals, Hermeto plays proficiently on basically almost any instrument, including keyboards, soprano saxophone, guitar and flute.

This opening concert in the Masters Reimagined series presents US premieres for an unusually large ensemble performed by instrumentalists from the Bronx (Bobby Sanabria), the Bay Area (Mike Marshall), Cuba (Paquito D'Rivera) and Rio de Janeiro (Jovino Santos Neto). Combining their individual specialties—Latin, bluegrass, classical, jazz, etc.—each will highlight the stunning range of styles embodied in Pascoal's compositions.

The evening will begin with a pre-concert discussion, when the performers will talk about the influence Hermeto has had on their development as artists. The first half of the concert features music director and pianist Santos Neto in a small chamber setting with virtuosos Marshall on mandolin and clarinetist D'Rivera. The beautiful lyricism of Pascoal's chamber works is replaced by Bobby Sanabria's thunderous extended big band. Featuring five trumpets, five trombones and five saxes, Sanabria's big band will premiere some of Pascoal's more rambunctious and dense works for the first time in United States.