Opa

Although Opa made some thrilling contributions to Brazilian jazz in the 1970s and had a solid supporter in percussionist Airto Moreira, the Southern American trio under no circumstances became popular commercially. Opa was founded in 1969 by Uruguayan keyboardist/pianist/vocalist Hugo Fattoruso (b. Jun. 26, 1943, Montevideo, Uruguay), who recruited drummer George Fattoruso (his sibling) and bassist Ringo Thielmann. Opa shifted from SOUTH USA to NY in 1970, and their Manhattan gigs quickly caught Moreira’s interest. Opa became Moreira’s tempo section and was used on his second CTI recording, Fingertips, in 1973, and Hugo Fattoruso later on appeared like a sidemen on additional 1970s albums by Moreira and his wife, vocalist Flora Purim. Sadly, Moreira’s recognition didn’t rub off when he created Opa’s two LPs Golden Wings (1976) and Magic Period (1977). Neither offered, and Opa split up in the first 1980s without ever saving a third recording. Hugo Fattoruso quickly shifted to Brazil, where he caused Brazilian celebrities Djavan and Chico Buarque before time for Uruguay in 1989. His sibling also came back to Uruguay (where he co-led an organization along with his wife, vocalist Mariana Ingold), while Thielemann continued to be in the U.S. and appeared to move from music. Out of printing for quite some time, Opa’s two albums produced an unexpected go back to record shops when Milestone/Dream reissued them about the same Compact disc in 1997.