Chico Pinheiro

The art of Brazilian guitar playing has almost become a musical genre unto itself. The gorgeous music written by composers like Antônio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto echoes differently on six strings.

As drummer Alex Kautz sees it, there are two parts to his musical brain: the Brazilian side, developed while growing up in São Paolo, and the jazz side, which came later, opening his ears to a wide world of musical possibilities. Those two approaches developed separately for Kautz and were initially fueled by different inspirations. Upon moving to New York City in 2007, though, he found a musical community that encouraged both, soon pushing him to new heights. “New York makes you find your uniqueness as a musician,” Kautz explains. “You really need to find a voice to fit. There are so many people playing so well and so many artists with their own ideas.

As drummer Alex Kautz sees it, there are two parts to his musical brain: the Brazilian side, developed while growing up in São Paolo, and the jazz side, which came later, opening his ears to a wide world of musical possibilities. Those two approaches developed separately for Kautz and were initially fueled by different inspirations. Upon moving to New York City in 2007, though, he found a musical community that encouraged both, soon pushing him to new heights. “New York makes you find your uniqueness as a musician,” Kautz explains. “You really need to find a voice to fit. There are so many people playing so well and so many artists with their own ideas.

As drummer Alex Kautz sees it, there are two parts to his musical brain: the Brazilian side, developed while growing up in São Paolo, and the jazz side, which came later, opening his ears to a wide world of musical possibilities. Those two approaches developed separately for Kautz and were initially fueled by different inspirations. Upon moving to New York City in 2007, though, he found a musical community that encouraged both, soon pushing him to new heights. “New York makes you find your uniqueness as a musician,” Kautz explains. “You really need to find a voice to fit. There are so many people playing so well and so many artists with their own ideas.

As drummer Alex Kautz sees it, there are two parts to his musical brain: the Brazilian side, developed while growing up in São Paolo, and the jazz side, which came later, opening his ears to a wide world of musical possibilities. Those two approaches developed separately for Kautz and were initially fueled by different inspirations. Upon moving to New York City in 2007, though, he found a musical community that encouraged both, soon pushing him to new heights. “New York makes you find your uniqueness as a musician,” Kautz explains. “You really need to find a voice to fit. There are so many people playing so well and so many artists with their own ideas.

Incredible art blossoms when the stresses of time and funds do not weigh on its creator. It was with a generous grant and time provided by the pandemic that vocalist/composer Luciana Souza was able to sit down and compose a new longform piece without distraction. Along with her trio of guitarist Chico Pinheiro and bassist Scott Colley, Souza debuts her wonderful new composition, Twenty-Four Short Musical Episodes (with first lines from poems by Emily Dickinson).

Incredible art blossoms when the stresses of time and funds do not weigh on its creator. It was with a generous grant and time provided by the pandemic that vocalist/composer Luciana Souza was able to sit down and compose a new longform piece without distraction. Along with her trio of guitarist Chico Pinheiro and bassist Scott Colley, Souza debuts her wonderful new composition, Twenty-Four Short Musical Episodes (with first lines from poems by Emily Dickinson).

This is the first album of Swami Jr. with his own compositions with lyrics composed by himself or some partners like Chico César, Zeca Baleiro, Vanessa da Mata, Paulo Freire and Virgínia Rosa. The album was physically released in 2007 and now becomes available digitally thru Borandá label. Together with Swami Jr., great Brazilian instrumentalists like Chico Pinheiro, Edu Ribeiro, Zeca Assumpção and others. The songs are interpreted by Swami Jr. and some of the greatest Brazilian artists like Zeca Baleiro, Marcelo Pretto, Zélia Duncan, Chico César, Vanessa da Mata, Virgínia Rosa and Luciana Alves.

A versatile performer, she has toured Cuba with trumpeter Roy Hargrove, recorded a ballad-oriented duo album with pianist Brad Mehldau, and an ode to Brazil’s composers with Brazilian guitarist Chico Pinheiro .” (All Music Guide )