Protásio Fortes Brito 

Povoação Velha, Boa Vista, 1932 

Guitarrist, songwriter, violinist with discography produced since the 1960s between Holland, Portugal and the United States. Tazinho has in his repertoire original compositions in different genres, like bolero, waltz and koladeras, besides well-known themes from the Cape Verdean singer.  

Fado and a theme by the Portuguese Carlos Paredes also appear in his repertoire. Before recording his first solo album he appears as a soloist from Cabo-Verdianos na Holanda, name of the group and the first album edited by Djunga de Biluca in Rotterdam in 1965, the starting point for the future Morabeza Records. Tazinho also appears in the musical direction alongside Frank Cavaquinho, and as the author of three compositions.   

From then on, one EP and three LPs were released by Morabeza Records, Hora di bai (1968), Dia grande (1969) and Sucessos Tazinho (1969), the first two with accompaniment by Toy d’Bibia (guitar), Frank Cavaquinho (cavaquinho) and Morgadinho (bass). Chico Serra is mentioned on the cover but did not play. He was in the studio and his name ended up being included, according to Djunga and Biluca (Cabo Verde & a Música – Dicionário de Personagens). Sucessos Tazinho is accompanied by Luís Morais (on one of the rare occasions he appears playing flute); Eduardo Jon Xalino (guitar); Frank Cavaquinho (cavaquinho) and Djunga de Biluca (rattle) –  data that is not found in the cover of the album and that are recovered by Francisco Sequeira, responsible for the record archive of Rádio de Cabo Verde in São Vicente (Cabo Verde & a Música – Dicionário de Personagens). 

Besides the albums edited in Holland, Tazinho edited two EPs in Portugal by Alvorada. Then there is a gap of about a decade and a half in his recordings. In 1976, the musician who since his youth had worked as a seafarer – was always between one trip to another that he recorded his albums – settled in the USA, residing in New Bedford. It is in 1984 that he reappeared on record with the single Tazinho and Os Bravos. At the time, determined to improve himself as an instrumentalist, he started classes with Young Boboy, a Cape Verdean-American conductor and saxophonist, who would appear in in the arrangements on Tazinho’s next album, Pleno (1986). This album features accompaniment by Paulino Vieira (piano, bass, drums, cavaquinho, rattle, guitar and arrangements) and Toy Vieira (cavaquinho, synthesizer).  

Tazinho was born in a family with several instrumentalists, including his older brother Mendonça, who was one of the biggest influences when he was a child. Thus, his learning began early. While still a teenager he keeps in contact with experienced musicians from Boa Vista, like Bentinho Évora, Nenezinho, Fidjinho d’ Chiquinha, and, mostly, Luís Rendall, whose solos he learns, in addition to frequently accompanying him. At a certain point, his son Voginha tells (A Semana, 30.06.2006), upon hearing him sing one of his songs, Randall tells him that he doesn’t want him singing his solos, but rather to play originals. Offended by him, the apprentice says that he will never play his master’s solos again, and so he did. Much later, he recognized that his attitude was a stimulus for him to create his own songs.  

At the age of 14, Tazinho began life at sea, which was his profession for many years, initially between the islands, and later, on long-haul ships. It was in this context that he was in Rotterdam in 1965 when, among the group of fellow countrymen who gathered to play at Djunga de Biluca’s house, the idea of recording an album emerged.  

Discography 

• Tazinho, EP, Casa Silva, Rotterdam, c. 1966. 
• Dia grande, LP, MR, Rotterdam, c. 1967. 
• Hora di bai, LP, MR, Rotterdam, c. 1968. 
• Sucessos Tazinho, LP, MR, Rotterdam, 1968. Reedited on CD, [?] under the title Tazinho in Holland – 1965. 
• Cabo Verde, EP, Alvorada, Porto, 1969. 
• Tazinho e violão – Música de Cabo Verde, EP, Alvorada, Porto, 1970. 
• Tazinho and Os Bravos, single, Sadbirds Records, New Bedford, 1984. 
• Pleno, LP, e/a, New Bedford, 1986. 
• Coragem – regresso de Tazinho, CD, [?], New Bedford, 2005. 
• Santa Mónica, CD, author’s edition, New Bedford, 2006. 

Songs

Cabo Verde; Canal di Biscaya; Coladeira by Tazinho [sic – title indicated on the cover; Corpim sabe/Fazem corpim sabe (partnership with Manuel d’Novas); Leonilda; Maly; Mau tempo; Ou tarde ou nunca; Pa Djêdje. 

Listen

Collaborated in the research: Francisco V. Sequeira