The trio explores the Brazilian songbook of various times and various styles. Like an embroidery, they describe what would be the Brazilian lyric soul where the rustic urban universe of the samba and waltz meet. Taking advantage of the jazz and erudite background of the musicians and the curiosity of the trio about Brazilian music in general, the concert combines pieces by Villa-Lobos, brazilian waltz from the beginning of 20th century, old sambas, lyrical songs by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. Talks a lot about Brazilian music in a very elegant but also amusing way.
MÔNICA SALMASO
Born in São Paulo in 1971, Mônica Salmaso has surfaced as one of the best young voices among the new talents of Brasil. Besides her music studies in São Paulo, Mônica has recorded and performed with important Brazilian artists like Edu Lobo, Eduardo Gudin, José Miguel Wisnik, Marlui Miranda, Guinga, Nelson Ayres and the Jazz Symphonic Orchestra of São Paulo.
In 1995 she recorded AFRO SAMBAS, a voice and guitar album, arranged and produced by Brazilian guitarist Paulo Bellinati. The CD premiered the complete Afro-Sambas by Baden Powell and Vinícius de Moraes, released in US and Europe by GSP (Guitar Solo Publication) Records.
In 1997, she was nominated for Prêmio Sharp – 97 as Best New Singer on Brazilian Popular Music with the Cd AFRO SAMBAS. In 1998 she recorded her first solo Cd TRAMPOLIM – Pau Brasil Music (in Brazil) and Bluejackel Records (in USA). The cd features some of the most creative musicians in Brazilian contemporary music such as Nana Vasconcelos, Teco Cardoso, Paulo Bellinati, among others. In May 1999, Monica Salmaso won the Visa-Mastercard-Eldorado Prize for best singer in Brazil among 1.200 contestants, all over the country. The prize has earned attention over Monica’s talent and career, and during august/september 99 she recorded for Eldorado records, her third album “VOADEIRA”. It has been qualified by the press, as one of the best releases of 99 in Brazilian Popular Music, featuring Marcos Suzano, Benjamim Taubkin, Naylor “Proveta”, Toninho Ferragutti and Paulo Bellinati, among others.
Also in 1999 Mônica was awarded as the “best singer” from Brazil. The prize was conceded by APCA – (Associação Paulista dos Críticos de Arte), and it is particularly important as it is given by a poll of the most important Brazilian press community .
From 1998 till 2000, Monica sung with the Orquestra Popular de Câmara – a 12 piece band – that blended the Brazilian musical heritage along with the personal contribution of each one of the renowned soloist of the group.
In 2004, she has released her fourth cd IAIÁ by the label Biscoito Fino (in Brazil), released in USA and Europe by Harmonia Mundi.
She took an important part as a singer in the movie “Vinicius” about the life and work of Vinicius de Morais, directed by Miguel Faria Jr, and she took part in the most recent cd recorded by Chico Buarque, “Carioca”, singing the song “Imagina” composed by Chico Buarque and Tom Jobim. Releases in 2007 her 5th cd “Noites de gala, samba na rua” with songs composed by Chico Buarque and the quintet Pau Brasil as special guest. In 2011, released the cd “Alma Lírica Brasileira” (Brazilian Lyric Soul) playing with Teco Cardoso (sax and flutess) and Nelson Ayres (piano) for the label Biscoito Fino.
In 2012, she was awarded as the “best singer” at the 23o Prêmio da Musica Brasileira with the cd Alma Lírica Brasileira. In 2012 recorded and released her 2nd DVD Alma Lírica Brasileira, directed by Walter Carvalho, and winner of the 24° Prêmio da Musica Brasileira in 2013 as the best music DVD. In 2014 released the cd “Corpo de Baile”, with songs composed by Guinga and Paulo César Pinheiro, for the label Biscoito Fino. With this cd, was awarded as the “Best Singer” and the “Best Song” and also nominated as “Best Arrangement”and “Best MPB Cd”at the 26o Prêmio da Musica Brasileira. In 2017 released the cd “Caipira”and was awarded as the “Best Singer” and the “Best Regional Cd” at the 29o Prêmio da Musica Brasileira. In 2018 she released a DVD of the project “Corpo de Baile”, recorded during the 2015 and 2016 tour directed by the Photogafer and film director Walter Carvalho who created the video set design.
TECO CARDOSO
One of the most creative Brazilian soloists, multi-instrumentalists (all saxes, flutes and native brazilian indians bamboo flutes) Teco Cardoso was born in multi-cultural city of Sao Paulo, whoose cosmopolitan flavors can be felt in his music. He started his career playing in very important young barzilian jazz groups, such as “ ZonAzuL “ then became a steady member of the internationally acclaimed “ Pau Brasil “ .
Cardoso lived for a while in Los Angeles, studying with composer/arranger Moacir Santos, then returned to his native country, where he has been performing with such important Brazilian artists as Dori Caymmi, Edu Lobo, Joyce, Joao Donato, Marlui Miranda, Badem Powell, Carlos Lira, Johny Alf, Filo Machado, Rosa Passos, Monica Salmaso among others.
As soloist released important albuns such as “ Caminhos Cruzados “ ( Duo with acclaimed composer/acoustic guitar virtuoso Ulisses Rocha ), “ Meu Brasil “ ( his first solo CD that won the Premio Sharp as the best instrumental release in 1998 ), “ Quinteto “ ( with flute palyer and composer Lea Freire, recorded in NY after an american tour with the group ) and “ O Cineasta da Selva “ ( sound track that he produced and composed along with percussionist Caito Marcondes ).
Teco has toured in Europe, North America and Japan having played in very important Jazz Festivals and clubs such as North Sea Jazz Festival, Spoleto USA Festival, Umbria Jazz, Paris Jazz, Copenhagen among others and clubs as Blue Note NY, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka, New Morning Paris, Quasimodo Berlim … Played 4 times at The Hollywood Bowl LA with artists as Ivan Lins, Monica Salmaso, Sergio Santos, Oscar Castro Neves, Dori Caymmi and others.
In 96, along with other musicians created the label “Nucleo Contemporaneo “, a record label that has been considered by brazilian critics as one of the most important projects to present contemporary brazilian instrumental music and released and produced already over 20 albuns ( “ Orquestra Popular de Camara “ is one of the groups in the catalog).
NELSON AYRES
Pianist, composer, arranger and conductor NELSON AYRES has been since the 70 ́s one of the most important names in Brazilian instrumental music.
An acomplished jazz pianist, he played with big names such as Benny Carter, Toots Thielemans, Dizzy Gillespie, Airto Moreira and Flora Purim. In Brazil it is hard to find one great singer or musician who has not counted on him as arranger or on piano. Milton Nascimento and Ivan Lins are among his partners in composition. He is the creator of PAU BRASIL, a quintet which has been on the road for almost 30 years performing Brazilian instrumental music at the most important European and American jazz festivals. During the 90 ́s he was conductor and artistic director of the São Paulo Symphonic Jazz Orchestra, the world ́s only full time symphony orchestra exclusively dedicated to popular music. The originality of his arrangements have taken him to the podium of Orchestras all over the world, including the prestigious Israel Philarmonic Orchestra. For the last ten years he has been consultant and President of the Jury for the Visa Prize, the most important music competition in Brazil. He has also his own weekly jazz program on the Brazilian Cultural TV Network.