“His [Guinga’s] tunes can go hopscotching through arpeggios that sketch subtle harmonic motion, yet seem like something anyone could whistle. They dart and zigzag, stopping and starting and veering at odd angles, yet still sound as if they're dancing” – Jon Pareles, New York Times.
"probably the most interesting contemporary Brazilian composer...His work is a dense and complex contrapuntal web." Tom Schnabel, KCRW
"Anyone interested in Brazilian music will go through Guinga". — Chico Buarque
"Guinga is the composer who impressed me the most when I was there [Brazil]. He's like Villa-Lobos meets Cole Porter. He made me cry." - Sergio Mendes
Vera’s Heartbeat presents two extraordinary Brazilian virtuoso performers: composer, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Guinga, "beloved by musicians around the world" (NPR) and clarinetist & saxophonist Nailor “Proveta” Azevedo, in a rare stateside duo performance at 2220 Arts. Through the concert the two friends will offer a musical overview of Guinga's compositions in his 50+ year career and perform songs from his new album Zaboio.
Now 72, Guinga, whose real name is Carlos Althier de Souza Lemos Escobar, is widely considered Brazil’s greatest and most important living composer. His deep and sophisticated songs , connect his love of jazz and classical to Brazilian forms including samba, frevo, modinha, bossa nova and rural baião, creating revelatory harmonies and rhythms. His chord progression is astonishing, at a 2019 masterclass an attendee marveled, "he's playing chords that don't even exist!"
The master guitarist, arranger and composer's "sphere of influence continues to grow" [Daniella Thompson]. He is revered and recorded by musicians worldwide, including by superstars Elis Regina, Leila Pinheiro, Chico Buarque, and Sergio Mendes, who has recorded Guinga's songs since they met in the early 1980s in Rio. According to Thompson, there have been more than 155 recordings made of Guinga’s music on at least 100 albums [in addition to his own].
Guinga and Proveta will come together in celebration of the release of Guinga's latest album, Zaboio, which he calls "a faithful portrait of my soul." It marks the first album to exclusively features compositions written by the composer and recalls and honors the people and places who have shaped him. This August, Gilly Music will publish the accompanying songbook, Cancioneiro Guinga, featuring 11 musical scores for guitar and voice from the new album.
(https://www.otempo.com.br/diversao/guinga-festeja-seus-71-anos-com-lancamento-do-album-zaboio-1.2497609).
About Guinga
Almost as pervasive as his music is his own urban legend; Fulfilling his father’s wish, Guinga graduated from dental school and, in 1975, opened a Rio de Janeiro dental practice with his then-wife Fatima, who is also a dentist. For years Guinga made his living as a dentist, and lived through his music.
In 1991, songwriter Ivan Lins created the Velas label to release Guinga’s 1991 debut album Simples e Absurdo. Its success led to a series of albums which allowed Guinga to compose, play and teach full time.
His album Rasgando Seda, in partnership with Quinteto Villa-Lobos, was nominated for Latin Grammy as Best Instrumental album of the Year. Roendopinho, released through Acoustic Music Records, was a critical success and was nominated for the “Prêmio da Música Brasileira” as Best Instrumental Album of the Year.
Guinga’s songs have been recorded by stars including Elis Regina, Michel Legrand, Sergio Mendes, Leila Pinheiro, Chico Buarque, Clara Nunes, and Ivan Lins. As a guitarist he has played with artists such as Clara Nunes, Beth Carvalho, Alaíde Costa, João Nogueira and Cartola. He has composed in collaboration with Paulo Cesar Pinheiro, Aldir Blanc, Chico Buarque, Nei Lopes, Sergio Natureza, Nelson Motta, Simone Guimarães, Francisco Bosco, and others.
About Nailor Proveta
With a vast career spanning 30 years, Brazilian saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger Nailor Proveta has been one of the most demanded musicians in contemporary music. Proveta started his professional career in the band lead by his father, accordionist and pianist Geraldo Azevedo and at 16 he joined the Sylvio Mazzucca Orchestra as a clarinetist. Proveta has toured Brazil with Ray Conniff’s orchestra and has already shared the stage with Natalie Cole and Benny Carter, among others.
In 1992, Proveta and trumpeter Walmir Gil formed the acclaimed Banda Mantiqueira, acknowledged as the best big band in Brazil for masterly combining Brazilian, jazz and classical music. The band has toured the world and won two Latin Grammy Awards, for Best Latin Jazz Performance in 1998 and Best Instrumental Album 2006. The Banda Mantiqueira have also backed artists like Guinga and Eduardo Gudin in recordings and live performances. In 2016, Banda Mantiqueira celebrated 25 years of music history with the album "Com Alma", that featured two very special guests: Romero Lubambo and Wynton Marsalis.
Proveta is also known for his tours at Blue Note in Japan, where he performed from 1996 to 2006 with singer Joyce and drummer Tutty Moreno. Proveta and Guinga also toured Japan in 2019 with Mônica Salmaso and Teco Cardoso, a collaboration that led to the recording of the album “Japan Tour 2019”.
Proveta is currently the Artistic Director at the Ibirapuera Auditorium in São Paulo where he collaborates and encourages new Brazilian talents.
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