Jards Macalé

Widely recognized as one of the key figures behind Brazil's tropicália movement, composer Jards Anet da Silva, better known as Jards Macalé, was born on March 3, 1943, in the Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. Immersed in a musical environment, he explored diverse genres from a young age. Nicknamed after the Botafogo football player, he began his career in 1965 as a guitarist for Grupo Opinião and saw him working with renowned artists like Maria Bethania and Gal Costa. He co-created Tropicarte Agency with Costa, Paulinho da Viola, and José Carlos Capinam. His first album, Só Morto, debuted in 1969, followed by his eponymous LP in 1972, which included the hit single "Sem Essa." A versatile artist, Jards Macalé composed for films and theatre, collaborating with filmmakers such as Nelson Pereira dos Santos and Joaquim Pedro de Andrade. His songs, including "Vapor Barato" and "Anjo Exterminado," were interpreted by notable artists like Maria Bethania and Gal Costa. Despite notable collaborations with Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, Jards Macalé distanced himself from the tropicália movement, citing its commercialization and loss of artistic autonomy. Over the following decades, he continued to engage in music, releasing albums such as Let's Play That (1983) with Naná Vasconcelos, Peçam Bis with Dalva Torres (1988), O Que Faço é Música (1998), Amor, Ordem & Progresso (2003), Macao (2008), and Jards (2011).In 2019, his album Besta Fera was nominated for the Latin Grammy Award for Best MPB Album and was recognized by the São Paulo Association of Art Critics as one of the best Brazilian albums of that year.