Ernesto Nazareth -

Ernesto Nazareth -  a "must hear" for  pianists interested in studying jazz, latin and folk solo styles, or anyone else who just likes good music.  Brazilian composer (1863 - 1934)  lived in Rio de Janeiro and was a product of the local culture. Fortunately, the local culture was the product of a number of outside musical forces - European art music, jazz, ragtime, tango, Brazilian folk music, African music and western classical music.   Many of his 300 or so relatively short but inspired piano compositions are clearly influenced by the music of Chopin, but threads of choro and tango and ragtime are intertwined.   For jazz pianists studying the art of solo playing, his music contains a wealth of ideas for working out left-hand stylistic differentiation.  His many beautiful waltzes suggest Strauss and Chopin but with an ethnic twist and lovely harmonic surprises.  He often uses minor keys to create a refreshing introspective and contemplative quality that is so different from most of the music we hear these days.  The melodic phrases seem at first transparent in the way that they develop but then they always take a left turn and pleasantly foil your expectations.   His most famous piece is the tango "Odeon", later adapted for the guitar - he had been hired to play in the waiting room of the Odeon Theater and the name likely derives from that gig.   I think I'll entitle my next composition "Little America".
    Here are a few links to printed music collections of Ernesto Nazareth:

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/A-Collection-Of-His-Finest-Piano-Works/3859469
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Brazilian-Tangos-and-Dances/3672547
http://www.freehandmusic.com/sheet-music/ernesto-nazareth-brazilian-tangos-311400