Brazilian jazz legend Hermeto Pascoal passed away at the age of 89, his family announced on Saturday, September 13, 2025. Known affectionately as “The Sorcerer” and “The Mad Genius,” Pascoal earned a reputation for his extraordinary ability to create music using an immense range of instruments as well as everyday objects. At the time of his passing, Pascoal’s band was performing on stage, fulfilling his wish to leave the world surrounded by sound and music.
Born in Alagoas state in northeastern Brazil, Pascoal rose to international prominence through collaborations with jazz icons such as Miles Davis, who recorded some of his compositions. Pascoal’s innovative style blended jazz with Brazilian folk traditions including samba, bossa nova, forró, and chorinho.
Throughout his prolific career, he composed more than 2,000 instrumental works and was celebrated as a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist skilled on piano, flute, accordion, saxophones, and drums, among others. He was known to incorporate unconventional items like dolls, tea cups, and even live pigs into his performances.
Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso paid tribute, calling Pascoal “one of the highest points in the history of music in Brazil.” Pascoal was admired worldwide for his boundless creativity, improvisational genius, and unique artistic vision.
His family shared that Pascoal died “with serenity and love,” surrounded by relatives and fellow musicians, marking the end of a remarkable musical journey that left an indelible mark on jazz and world music.
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