Hermeto Pascoal is an innovative Brazilian composer known for the fusion of jazz and traditional music at the age of 89.

Self-taught multi-instrumentalist from child poverty to international fame – Miles Davis calls him the most important musician on earth.

The statement proclaiming the death said he was “surrounded by family and musicians. It provided no details.

Pascoal has written over 2,000 instrumental works and continues to arrange music and record artists in the 1980s.

The artist is primarily a pianist and flute player, but also plays saxon, guitar, drums and accordion – often bringing household objects into his work.

When recording his debut album, The Slave Mass, for Warner Brother in 1976, he brought a pair of live pigs into the studio.

Born on June 22, 1936 in a rural settlement in the northeast of Alagoas, he was unable to work with his family due to his albinism and taught himself music while spending time indoors.

At the age of 10, he started playing for dances and weddings, and then continued playing Forró and other traditional Brazilian music in the area.

In the late 1950s, he moved to Rio de Janeiro, discovered the city’s jazz scenes, performed in nightclubs and joined the radio band.

His fusion of jazz and traditional folk styles has attracted the attention of Brazil’s biggest stars.

Singer Elis Regina performed Pascoal with percussionist Airto Moreira.

The latter accompanied him to the United States, where he was introduced to Miles Davis.

But despite gaining celebrity respect in the jazz world, Pascoll turned down the record company of jazz musicians and said he owe Brazilian music such as Chorinho and Chorinho and Samba.

“When they think I’m doing one thing, I’m already doing something else…it’s very liquid,” he told Jazz World in 2022.

Pascoal’s family announced his death on Saturday’s Instagram page.

It urges people to “make a single note ring – from the instrument, your voice or the kettle, if they want to respect him, give it to the universe.