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Hugo Fattoruso, born in Montevideo, Uruguay, began his musical career as a prodigious and somewhat reluctant piano student at the age of four. By the time he was nine his father Antonio formed El Trio Fattoruso by drafting Hugo's younger brother Jorge on drums, with Hugo on accordion and Antonio on "inverted bucket bass" (using a broom as the neck, and a cord as the instrument's single string). This trio performed in street festivals, covering the variety of styles used in Uruguay's carnivals (boleros, murgas, tangos, etc.), giving Hugo an education in the rich harmonic stuff of disparate musical styles.
At the age of 16 Hugo moved to the upright bass and began his tenure as the under-aged member of The Hot Blowers, a swing band that toured throughout Latin America in the late 1950s. This period could be seen as a second important milestone in Hugo's harmonic education, hammering home the concepts of improvisation and musical interplay.
By the early 1960s, rock'n'roll began to shake the world's foundation, and Hugo set out to express himself in that medium by forming Los Shakers, where he and his brother shared song writing, singing and guitar responsibilities. Los Shakers, Hugo Fattoruso (guitar, voice), Osvaldo Fattoruso (guitar, voice), Roberto "Pelin" Capobianco (bass, voice), Carlos "Caio" Vila (drums, voice), were a huge success throughout Latin America, as they were able to mold the complexities of bossa's harmonies, Uruguay's urban song style, candombe rhythms and the backbeat of rock into a new and contagious form.
By the late 1960s the influence of jazz, and of the Afro-Uruguayan rhythm of candombe, took Hugo to New York City, where he formed the group Opa. In Opa Hugo played keyboards and sang, while his brother played drums, and childhood friend Ringo Thielmann played bass. Opa's mixture of jazz, rock, Brazilian harmonies and rhythms, and Uruguay's African-flavored music (candombe) gave this band a distinctive voice, and garnered them recognition among musicians in the then growing "Latin jazz" scene. Opa released two albums on their own, 'Goldenwings' and 'Magic Time'. Opa's music served to influence the next generation of Uruguayan musicians, continuing the Fattoruso's impact on Uruguayan musical culture.
From that point on Hugo travelled the U.S. and worked with a variety of artists, ranging from Hermeto Pascoal to Ron Carter to The Dixie Dregs. After working in the U.S. with Milton Nascimento, Hugo spent several years living in Rio de Janeiro, where he worked with several prominent Brazilian artists including Djavan, Geraldo Azevedo, Chico Buarque de Holanda, Nana Vasconcelos and Toninho Horta. He has recorded extensively with Milton Nascimento, on the records "Milton", "Journey To Dawn", "Planeta Blue Na Estrada Do Sol", "Angelus", and "Nascimento", winner of the 1997 World Music Grammy Award. In addition to his piano and accordion playing, the compositions on the release "Nascimento" were co-arranged by Milton and Hugo.
Throughout our days at school, the term "Homework" is associated with the practicing process which prepares us all for the future. To describe this project, the phrase "home is where the heart is" also comes to mind. Hugo spends much of his time at home, creating, and has done so for most of his life. Here he takes what he has developed at home, and with family and friends offers you this flavorful variety of sounds, melodies, rhythm and love. As knowledge exists for us to acquire, and then to pass on to others, let this musical experience serve both these purposes.
Tracks (audio)
01. Brisas 2:43 
02. Milonga Blues 5:12
03. Conmigo 5:10
04. Melodía en Candombe 3:38
05. Atardecer 4:16
06. Agua y Aceite 4:06
07. Aero Rings 2:49
08. Todo Voce 3:06
09. Islands' Queen 4:41
10. Mi Canción 3:39
11. Can't Reach 2:32
12. Septiembre Así 4:57
13. El Gramillero 7:47
14. Figuras y Reflejos 5:09
Musicians
Hugo Fattoruso vocals, keyboards, guitar
Gabriela Fattoruso vocals
Mariana Garcia Vigil vocals
Alex Fattoruso acoustic guitar
Christian Fattoruso electric guitar
Francisco Fattoruso electric bass
Percussion
Arturo Prendez, Hector Prendez, Ramon Echegaray, Jane Tomkiewicz, Colon Budes, Daniel Kravetz, Fernando "Lobo" Núñez, Washington Martirena, Jorge "Foque" Gomez, Pablo "Piraña" Silva, Fernando Banega, Damian Peluffo, Hugo Fattoruso
Reviews
From the warm confines of noted Uruguayan troubadour's Fresh Medows, N.Y. home studio comes an exhilarating, eclectic package of Latin-American rooted pop embroidered with touches of new age, rock, and jazz. -Critic's Choice/Billboard
Hugo Fattoruso was a mop-topped '60s rock star who fronted Los Shakers in his native Uruguay. Since then he's worked closely over the years with Brazilian legends Milton Nascimento, Djavan and Toninho Horta, which probably explains why Homework is so warm and personable. This largely self-made, self-produced recording has the style and spirit of classic Brazilian tropicalismo of such masters as Caetano Veloso and Nascimento. It's a thrilling record with sparse acoustic guitars, hints of Latin percussion and Fattoruso's gentle, soothing vocals. -College Music Journal
It's hard to find something sweeter than a world flavored jazz date made for the sheer joy of it, by someone with chops to spare. Sweet set that comes from the heart, and is sure to touch open ears in need of a gentle jolt that will wear well. -Midwest Record Recap
The Uruguayan Fattoruso, known for his work with the group Opa, sings and accompanies himself on guitar, keyboards, and accordion on these 14 cuts. The solo numbers are rounded out by tunes where Fattoruso's friends and loved ones contribute percussion and additional guitars and vocals. His style reflects various influences: the music of Argentina and Uruguay, rock, jazz, and a pronounced Brazilian thrust, particularly bossa nova and tropicalismo. All of these are distilled into a highly original sound, airy yet rhythmic and dense, that makes for a strongly appealing release. -Marcela Breton/JazzTimes
