Until the early 1960s, there was a healthy debate within the music community about who was, at that time, the most important saxophonist and clarinetist in Brazil: Luiz Americano from Sergipe or Abel Ferreira from Minas Gerais. Upon Americano's death, the unimpeachable critic Lúcio Rangel wrote the following for Manchete magazine: "The greatest Brazilian clarinetist and saxophonist is Abel Ferreira, and that is beyond dispute."
 
Leaving aside personal tastes and opinions, it is known that Abel Ferreira (1915-1980) was indeed sought after by major artists in the country. Already a veteran and with a prominent role in the revival of choro music in the 1970s, he also recorded his alto and soprano saxophones and, especially, his clarinet on albums by Ney Matogrosso, Dona Ivone Lara, Cartola, Beth Carvalho, João Bosco, Monarco, Cristina and Chico Buarque.
 
In the series conceived by Discos Marcus Pereira to highlight great choro soloists – among them, flautist Altamiro Carrilho, trombonist Raul de Barros, mandolinist Luperce Miranda and guitarist Canhoto da Paraíba – Abel Ferreira could not be left out.
 
In the 1976 album "Brasil, sax e clarineta" (Brazil, Sax and Clarinet), Abel performs his own compositions, such as his best-known work, "Chorando baixinho" (Crying Softly), as well as songs by authors who were influential to him: Luiz Americano ("Sorriso de cristal" - Crystal Smile), Severino Rangel, aka Ratinho ("Saxofone, por que choras?" - Saxophone, Why Do You Cry?), Pixinguinha ("Cochichando" - Whispering), and Chiquinha Gonzaga ("Corta-jaca" - Jackfruit Cutter).
 
Repertoire
 
Side A
Corta-jaca (Chiquinha Gonzaga) – Abel Ferreira (clarinet)
Crystal Smile (Luiz Americano) – Abel Ferreira (alto sax)
Hurting (Adalberto de Souza) – Abel Ferreira (soprano sax)
Rapaziada do Brás (Alberto Marino) – Abel Ferreira (clarinet)
Crying softly (Abel Ferreira) – Abel Ferreira (clarinet)
André de sapato novo (André Victor Correia) – Abel Ferreira (clarinet) and Raul de Barros (trombone)
 
Side B
Whispering (Pixinguinha) – Abel Ferreira (soprano sax)
Get out of the way (Abel Ferreira) – Abel Ferreira (clarinet)
Haroldo in the cry (Abel Ferreira) – Abel Ferreira (clarinet)
Moonlight of Coromandel (Abel Ferreira) – Abel Ferreira (clarinet)
Saxophone, why are you crying? (Severino Rangel, the Little Mouse) – Abel Ferreira (alto sax)
Brazilian Soul (Fernando Magalhães) – Abel Ferreira (clarinet)