by Alvaro NederOscar Castro-Neves is a gifted Brazilian musician settled in the U.S. since 1966. Besides his important contribution to the movement usually known as bossa nova, he has also taken part in projects with Joe Henderson (including their performances at the JVC Jazz Festival) and other great names of jazz, such as Dave Grusin, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, and others. As a producer, arranger, and orchestrator, he has worked in many artists albums, conducting some of them; at the same time, wrote music for American movies and TV series. As a composer, enjoyed great success with his Onde Está Você, recorded by various important interpreters. Beginning his musical discovery very early, at six he already played a little violo and cavaquinho. With a group formed with his brothers, Leo (drums), Ico (bass), and Mário (piano), he performed in 1954 at Rádio Difusora, Petrópolis, RJ. The musicians interested in renewing Brazilian popular music were bringing classical influences from Ravel, Debussy, and others, incorporating altered chords into the bittersweet samba-cano of those times, and Castro-Neves was taken by it. Johnny Alf, deeply influenced by American jazz, was presenting his unusual piano playing at Cantina do César, where Castro-Neves would go to learn from him, as would all musicians who would be known as bossa nova proponents. In 1959, the nascent bossa nova was still called alternative names such as Festival de Samba Moderno (modern samba festival) in university presentations, and Castro-Neves joined those events in the first wave. On Carlos Liras first album, recorded in 1960 for Philips, Castro-Nevess Chora Tua Tristeza (with Luverci Fiorini) was included. Forming a new group, along with his brothers Ico and Leo, he performed at the Teatro Records (So Paulo SP) Festival Nacional de Bossa Nova. They also performed at the Noite do Sambalano at P.U.C. university (So Paulo SP). Gaining strength, the nascent movement caught the attention of Philips executives, who released the album Bossa Nova Mesmo with Castro-Nevess Chora tua Tristeza (interpreted by his group) and Menina Feia (recorded by Lúcio Alves). He and his group also accompanied other artists on that album. In 1962, he took part in the historic Carnegie Hall Bossa Nova Festival, with a group formed of Percy Wilcox (guitar), Ico, and Roberto Ponte (drums). He then became friends with Paul Winter, with whom he would record his own solo album, Oscar!, debuting on Winters label Living Music. Still in 1962, Castro-Neves recorded an LP for Audio Fidelity with drummer Milton Banana (O Ritmo e o Som da Bossa Nova), which included some of his own compositions. He performed at 1964s historic concert at Zum-Zum nightclub, together with Vinícius de Morais, Dorival Caymmi, and Quarteto em Cy. The show, directed by Aluísio de Oliveira, was recorded and released by de Oliveiras Elenco. The seminal show, O Fino da Bossa, was presented at So Paulos Teatro Paramount, which would generate the TV series presented by Elis Regina under the same title, and had Alaíde Costa singing Castro-Nevess Onde Está Você, scoring a hit with it. Castro-Nevess group was also recorded live on some tracks and released in 1965 on several LPs, such as Bossa Nova no Paramount, O Fino da Bossa RGE, and A Bossa Nova no Carnegie Hall (Audio Fidelity). He also composed and directed the music for Roberto Farias movie Toda Donzela tem um pai que é uma Fera and Millor Fernandes/Flávio Rangels play Liberdade, Liberdade. Tom Jobim included Castro-Nevess song Morrer de Amor (with Luverci Fiorini) on his 1966 album Tom Jobim Apresenta. Castro-Neves then headed for the States, where he joined Sérgio Mendes Brasil 66 group. Hired by A&M through Herb Alpert, they had immediate success in blendin a commercial pop vein, Brazilian, jazz, and American popular styles. When Castro-Neves joined them, they had already recorded three albums and he took part on all the subsequent ones, departing from their fourth album, Fool on the Hill, until 1981. As an arranger, Castro-Neves worked for Quincy Jones, Flora Purim, Laurindo Almeida, and others. In 1970, when Joo Gilberto and Miúcha were living in Mexico City, he arranged Joo Gilberto in Mexico. In 1973, he recorded for Odeon the LP $ALADE|COSTA|&|OSCAR$Alaíde Costa & Oscar Castro-Neves. In 1982, he arranged and directed the soundtrack for Bruno Barretos movie Gabriela, Cravo e Canela and also for Blame It on Rio. He worked with Yo-Yo Ma on the cellists chart-topping Tango album and played on David Darlings Cycles (ECM). He was a conductor, producer, and arranger for Ottmar Lieberts best-selling Leaning into the Night album. Together with Paul Winter, they produced Winters albums Common Ground and Missa Gaia. Since 1992, he has promoted Brazilian Music Nights at the Hollywood Bowl. He also owns Kennis Enterprises studio. His discography in the U.S. includes Tropical Heart, More Than Yesterday, Maracujá, Brazilian Scandals, Oscar!, Big Band Bossa Nova, and Big Band Bossa Nova.