Mateus Aleluia

Mateus Aleluia

From: Salvador, Bahia, Brasil.
Style: ijexá
E-mail: mateusaleluia@mateusaleluia.com


Os Tincoãs, with their hauntingly beautiful vocals, were named for a suitably beautiful bird common to their area (the tincoã) reputed to have the power to warn humans of impending danger...the group comprising three vocalists hailing from Cachoeira, Bahia. 1960 was their first year of existence, but they really found their footing three years later when Erivaldo left the ensemble and Mateus Aleliua -- bringing with him an ethos founded principally in Bahia's houses of candomblé -- joined Heraldo and Dadinho.

Heraldo and Dadinho have since passed away, but Mateus is still active, having co-written another candomblé-based song which was the hit of Carnival a couple of years ago (Maimbê Dandá). Unfortunately none of Os Tincoãs' records are available anymore.

NOTE! The Tincoãs have become the focus of a recent surge in interest, in part due to Mateus's participation and recordings with Carlinhos Brown and Margareth Menezes...and re-recording by these two of Tincoãs' material. So, EMI in Brazil is preparing a reissue of their 1973 Tincoãs release...and we're proud to say that EMI -- having lost the original album art -- will utilize the art on Bahia-Online/Cana Brava's copy of the record!

Mateus is a deep soul, a student of African culture (he spent four years living in Angola and will be returning for another three), and his recent singing (alone with his guitar) of the last song in the series on the player below -- Lamento às Águas -- was one of the most profound experiences I've had the privilege of living through. Saravá Mateus! And obrigado!