RecentMusic - Uakti New Releases

Uakti

Uakti was a unique musical group hailing from Brazil, known for their innovative use of custom-made instruments, often created by the group members themselves. The name "Uakti" (WAHK-chee) was inspired by a myth from indigenous Tukano culture. According to the myth, Uakti was a creature with holes in his body that would produce sound when the wind passed through them, an apt metaphor for the group's distinctive musical philosophy. Formed in the late 1970s, the ensemble was originally comprised of musicians Marco Antônio Guimarães, Artur Andrés Ribeiro, Paulo Sérgio Santos, and Décio Ramos; they were often joined by other talented artists for specific projects.

Over the course of their career, Uakti gained international prominence for their avant-garde approach to music and instrumentation, blurring the boundaries between classical and popular music. Their album "Blindness," based on the novel by José Saramago and released in 1998, showcased their ability to translate literary depth into an aural experience. They collaborated with renowned composer Philip Glass on "Philip Glass: Aguas da Amazonia," released in 1999, infusing Amazonian water themes with Glass's minimalist style to considerable acclaim. In their albums "Trilobyte" and "Uakti: Mapa," both released in 2015, Uakti further explored the fusion of traditional Brazilian rhythms with contemporary classical stylings, cementing their legacy as one of Brazil's most innovative and transcendent musical groups. Sadly, Uakti disbanded in 2015, but their music continues to inspire musicians and audiences with its ingenious fusion of the organic and the composed.

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