Yamandú Costa, an outstanding Brazilian talent, whose masterful performance fascinates with his breathtaking technique, surprising strokes of genius, charisma and class. The guitarist, who hails from Rio Grande do Sul, studied the works of Baden Powell and Tom Jobim and developed an incomparable manner of playing the guitar, somewhere between genius and madness. And Yamandú Costa is like all geniuses when he flashes the most difficult scales with a bored look at his concerts: delightfully crazy, fascinating, frighteningly good. With Mafuá, this exceptional talent at the guitar has produced an instrumental album with his own compositions that shuttle between samba, choro and tango, music that is captivatingly rhythmical and filled with an overwhelming melodic diversity, which he decorates with explosive runs. Even though Yamandú Costa has already recorded several album productions, he does reveal a novelty in “Mafuá”: It is indeed his first solo work.

On ,Recuerdo’ (’Memories’), the three Argentinien Damian Cortés, Mariano Mattar and Andres Guzmán combine the magic of the Argentinean tangos and milongas with classical guitar music, which is staged with dramatic guitar pyrotechnics as well as with severity of concertante chamber music and precise ensemble playing. The three masters of the nylon string guitar complement each other perfectly to produce a combined, grand abundance of sound in interpretations of works like Anibal Trolio’s „La Trampera“ or Astor Piazzolla’s „Adios Niniono“, into which they also breathe new life and new passion. This is a topnotch, enjoyable musical experience!

Tagliani earned himself a reputation as an outstanding instrumentalist with the band „Raiz de Pedra“. He now performs in Europe, where his fame as a skilled interpreter of Brazilian music has preceded him ever since the release of his fi rst solo album, „Arvoredo“. With his new release, „Ao Vento“, he also reveals himself as a remarkable virtuoso on the strings, with a wonderful talent for fusing traditional Brazilian music with elements from universal guitar jazz. Tagliani convinces the listener with his special lightness, his playful agility, fi ery rhythms and elegant tone – which is extraordinarily creative, fi lled with harmony and lyricism. With „Ao Vento“, Pedro Tagliani has managed to produce a masterpiece of contemporary Latin-American guitar art, which has earned the highest respect and may be described as a timelessly beautiful reference work in this genre.

Quique Sinesi is one of South America's leading contemporary guitarists. He has played with Dino Saluzzi and was a member of Pablo Ziegler’s quintet, Astor Piazzolla’s former pianist. Sinesi’s focus is the music of Argentina, spanning the urbane sounds of Buenos Aires and the folklore of Rio De La Plata. "Microtangos" consists of a series of compositions that adapt the sonorous power and beauty of this music to the acoustic solo guitar perfectly. Elements of this tradition, such as Tango Nuevo are kneaded into a musically highly expressive microcosm under Quique Sinesi’s knowing hands. This Argentine artist is an outstanding guitarist, who knows exactly how to link his creative and technical abilities. “Microtangos” by Quique Sinesi is a balm for the ears, both in terms of musicality and recording technique.

For aficionados and connoisseurs of Latin American guitar music, this nylon string virtuoso and founder of the “Brazilian Guitar Project” has long been a well known entity, thanks to his professional workshops, his informative music books and not least, his international concerts.

His elegant nylon string playing, which reveals a profound experience of classical music without shrinking before improvisation, possesses a fiery intensity and fascinating rhythmic patterns, coupled with typical Latin American joy at playing, as well as very centered concentration in the classical passages.

Together with Pedro Tagliani, he creates densely woven cascades of sound on “Sketches Of Rio” that serve as a foundation for enthralling solo segments enriched by percussionist Gilson de Assis. The artist has chosen interpretations of Dilmerando Reis, Baden Powell and Tom Jobim this time, in addition to his own compositions.

Altogether, this turns “Sketches Of Rio” into a musical voyage of discovery full of fire and power, charm and elegance.

The CD ”Brazilian Guitar” compiles El-Salamouny’s most important recordings. This is not a typical ”best of” sampler, but rather a creative and versatile tour of various rhythms and styles of Brazil’s musically rich cultural environment. Gilson de Assis is on percussion, Joao Gomes plays saxophone and the second guitar is taken by Claudio Menandro. ”Brazilian Guitar” gives a truly impressive presentation of Ahmed El-Salamouny the musician. The concluding solo pieces in particular show his complete mastery and his mature command of his instrument. One focus of the compilation is the illustration the greatest possible range of rhythmic styles. In addition to bossa novas, you will also find forros, sambas, choros und baiao rhythms here. If you have a special liking for the irresistible flair of Brazilian music, this CD will be hard to avoid.

When four highly talented soloists on various instruments and from different nations get together, it produces, among other things, a homogenous ensemble with a fascinating radiance. That’s what happens with Caçamba: The Brazilian acoustic guitarist Victor da Costa and the Belgian jazz guitarist Boris Gaquere encounter the Brazilian saxophonist and flautist Cláudio Rocha de Almeída and the Mexican percussionist Osvaldo Hernandez – a fabulous quartet is born whose debut album, “Dito Cujo”, invites listeners to discover a kaleidoscopic musical cosmos.
Caçamba manages to cast the tradition of Brazilian music, contemporary South American modern and borrowings from North American jazz into a perfectly independent mold. In the process, the two guitar specialists produce interesting harmonic turns of phrase, wonderful chords, melodic lines and lavish ornamentation. The ensemble gets “Dito Cujo” to truly radiate with perfectly original formal and musical language. It’s a debut work that promises lots more: because Caçamba will surely be drawing from this refreshing well for years to come.

“Luz Das Cordas” is an inspired duo recording by two of the leading musicians of Brazil. Marco Pereira is one of the country’s best known guitarists. He brings together the South American feel for rhythm and classical technique, rich harmonies and a love for jazzy sounds. Hamilton de Holanda is a virtuoso of the Brazilian mandolin, the bandolim. “Luz Das Cordas” represents the music of Brazil today. Traditional styles such as choro, samba, baiao or frevo are reinterpreted and fused with influences from classical, jazz or flamenco. When two such gifted virtuosos as Marco Pereira and Hamilton De Holanda do this, the result is music of seldom heard charisma offered at the highest technical and emotional level.

Carlos Dorado's fascinating reputation precedes him: He creates impressive instrumental works – beautiful, moving compositions – that boast great harmonic complexity. It's an impression that is pleasantly confirmed when listening to his Acoustic Music debut album “Caio Villa Sonja”. On the ten compositions from his own pen, the nylon-string guitarist demonstrates the range of his skill, at times in elegant solo performances, at times as a duet with the Argentine guitar virtuoso Quique Senesi, or with the “Profesor Superior de Guitarra”, Victor Villadangos. It is fascinating to hear how Dorado amalgamates the Argentine music tradition with contemporary Latin American music and borrowings from jazz, to form his own style, which is informed by a veritably radiant liveliness. Dorado describes his artistic vision as “new guitar music”. We can take him at his word – and embark on a voyage of discovery with “Ciao Villa Sonja” that will introduce us to one of the leading contemporary guitarists of Latin America.

Experts on the acoustic guitar scene will doubtlessly recognize Alex Alves as an old acquaintance. It was with guitar trio “Madmo” when this brilliant classical guitarist from Brasil made his debut on Acoustic Music Records. For “Verde” Alves wrote twelve songs for solo guitar which clearly follow the latin tradition, think of Villa-Lobos, Ponce or Baden-Powell, nevertheless with a very modern and individual approach. With ease Alves’ music oscillates between classic concepts and jazz music, between latin verve and a distinct feeling for musical formality. But it’s not only the music that makes Alves unforgettable. Moreover, he is a formidable guitarist who never looses a bit of his expressiveness even if facing the most challenging degree of difficulty. A rare gift, brought to perfection on “Verde”.