Afterwards, Sérgio and Odair returned to New York for a concert at the prestigious Merkin Hall. Seeking a recording contract for the Duo, Harold Shaw persuaded producer Robert Hurwitz to attend.
At the time, Robert had left ECM Records to take on the artistic direction of a new project within Nonesuch. Although it was part of the Warner Brothers conglomerate — known for its vast popular and commercial catalog —, Nonesuch occupied a unique space: it was dedicated to contemporary, experimental and concert music, consolidating itself as a reference in avant-garde recordings.
The inventive sound of Sérgio and Odair fit precisely into this profile, dialoguing with emerging movements such as the minimalism of Philip Glass and Steve Reich. Thus, they became the first guitarists to sign with the label.
