Sergio Mendes, the Brazilian musician and bandleader who rose to international fame with his distinctive fusion of bossa nova, jazz and pop, has died in Los Angeles. He was 83 and, according to a statement released by his family, succumbed to the effects of long Covid.

Mendes’ work in the 1960s helped transform bossa nova from a localised Brazilian genre into a global sensation, earning him enduring popularity and a place in the pantheon of Latin American music. His vibrant sound, characterised by breezy melodies, rhythmic sophistication, and seamless genre-crossing, captivated listeners worldwide.

Sergio Mendes. 1941–2024

Born in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, on 11 February 1941, Mendes’ early interest in music was encouraged by his father and he initially trained to become a classical pianist. He studied at the National School of Music in Rio de Janeiro, where he absorbed the works of European composers like Debussy and Chopin.

However, the young Mendes was also deeply influenced by the blossoming bossa nova movement of the late 1950s, led by figures such as João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Vinícius de Moraes.

Bossa nova’s smooth synthesis of samba rhythms with jazz harmonies and understated...