Amaro Freitas is a highly acclaimed Brazilian jazz pianist and composer who is pioneering a distinct, contemporary sound in global jazz, moving beyond traditional Brazilian styles. Born in Recife, Brazil, his music is characterized by a heavily percussive and polyrhythmic approach that draws deeply from the cultural traditions of Northeast Brazil, such as maracatu, frevo, and baião. His unique technique often incorporates complex time signatures and features elements of prepared piano, where he places objects inside the instrument to generate unique sounds, notably used in his album Y’Y to evoke the Amazon rainforest. His work, including the album Sankofa, explores themes of Black ancestry and social justice, seamlessly blending the intellectual rigor of post-bop jazz with the rich, spiritual, and rhythmic heritage of his African-Brazilian roots.
