Ave Sangria
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Recife , Brazil |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Ave Sangria stands as a prominent Brazilian rock ensemble, playing a vital role in the 1970s psychedelic music movement within Pernambuco, alongside contemporaries such as Alceu Valença and Lula Côrtes.
1970s
The majority of the group's members hailed from Vila dos Comerciários, a modest neighborhood located in Recife. In 1968, bassist Almir de Oliveira joined forces with vocalist Marco Polo to create original compositions, transitioning from performing covers to crafting their own songs.
Originally called Tamarineira Village—a name inspired by both New York City's Greenwich Village and Recife's Tamarineira district—the band toured several cities including Salvador, Natal, and João Pessoa during 1973.
The transition to the name Ave Sangria occurred following a recommendation from a Romani woman they met in Paraíba. The founding lineup comprised Marco Polo (lead vocals), Ivson Wanderley (lead and acoustic guitars), Paulo Raphael (rhythm and acoustic guitars, synthesizer, vocals), Almir de Oliveira (bass), Israel Semente (drums), and Agrício Noya (percussion). This group recorded their debut album, self-titled Ave Sangria, in Rio de Janeiro in May 1974, with its release taking place the subsequent month.
Their album was available for purchase for roughly one and a half months before being censored by Brazil’s military regime due to the lyrical content of the track "Seu Waldir." Additionally, the original album cover—described by band members as depicting a "drag queen parrot"—was modified.
Ave Sangria's last concerts of that period were held at Teatro de Santa Isabel in Recife on December 28 and 29, 1974.
In 2011, under the leadership of Marco Polo and accompanied by Anjo Gabriel, the band performed at the Psicodália festival.
Reunion after 40 years
The group reunited in 2014 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their first album with performances beginning September 2 at Teatro de Santa Isabel. They also appeared at the 2015 Psicodália festival in Santa Catarina. During this era, their debut album was reissued in both CD and vinyl formats, alongside the release of their final recording titled Perfumes y baratchos.
Marking 45 years since their initial release, on April 26, 2019, Ave Sangria issued their second studio album, Vendavais, which featured original members Almir de Oliveira, Marco Polo, and Paulo Rafael (who passed away in 2021). The record contains eleven previously unreleased tracks written between 1972 and 1974. It earned distinction as one of the top 25 Brazilian albums during early 2019 by the Associação Paulista de Críticos de Arte.
Current
- Marco Polo - vocals (1969–1974, 2014–present)
- Almir de Oliveira - guitar, acoustic guitar, bass (1969–1974, 2014–present)
- Júnior do Jarro - drums (2014–present)
- Gilú Amaral - percussion (2014–present)
- Juliano Holanda - bass (2014–present)
Former
- Israel Semente - drums, percussion, backing vocals (1969–1974; died 1990)
- Agrício Noya - percussion (1969–1974; died 2015)
- Ivinho - guitar (1969–1974, 2014–2015; died 2015)
- Paulo Rafael - guitar (1969–1974; 2014–2021; died 2021)
Touring personnel
- Zé da Flauta – western concert flute
- Ebel Perrelli – percussion (2011–present)
- Nando Barreto – bass, backing vocals (2011–present)
- Jerimum – percussion (2011)
- Marco da Lata – bass, backing vocals (2011)
- Cris Rás – guitar (2011)
- André Sette – keyboards (2011)
- Rodrigo Duplicata – drums (2011)
- Breno Lira – guitar (2011)
- Cassio Sette – keyboards, backing vocals (2011)
- Wellington Santana – bass, backing vocals
Studio records
- 1974 - Ave Sangria - RCA
- 2019 - Vendavais
Live recordings
- 1974 - Perfumes e Baratchos
Singles
Bootleg releases
- 2009 - Tamarineira Village 1975 - ao vivo em Recife - CD Kopka