Cavaquinho player, composer

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: It was the musical play Zeca Pagodinho - Uma História de Amor ao Samba. It won the 2018 APTR prize for best music for theater. I was musical director, arranger, conductor and cavaquinho player.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I've been playing cavaquinho with the singer Teresa Cristina in her lives, during lockdown, and recording cavaquinho in my home studio.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Julio Florindo, bassist player.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital AND analog. Depends of what you have and want.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: A good work. Done with thought and care.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I think that art and music are among the most powerful and wonderful things that humanity invented.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: They're often worried about not knowing to write or read music, but I say it's not a problem, since they have and idea of what they want.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That it doesn't involve hard work, time and discipline.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What do they want for their music.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Go to the links, hear the music, see the videos, know the work.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: My cavaquinho, a computer, a good headphone, a external HD and a mic.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I am a professional musician since 1998. I played a lot (and still do) with Teresa Cristina and Grupo Semente. But I also worked with Marisa Monte, Caetano Veloso, Zeca Pagodinho, Diogo Nogueira, Roberta Sá, Paulinho da Viola, Zélia Duncan, Adriana Calcanhotto, Turíbio Santos, Yamandu Costa, Paulo Moura, Marc Sway...

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I play mostly Brazilian Music, especially Samba. But I hear all genres, and have worked with all kinds of music.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Peter Gabriel. I love his music, with Genesis and solo, since my teens.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Be sure and do as planned, but be open to the opinion of the other musicians and engineers.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Samba, MPB, Bossa Nova and Brazilian Instrumental Music. But I also work with Rock, Jazz, Funk and Blues.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Playing cavaquinho and composing music.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I have worked as composer, instrumentalist, arranger and producer of many songs. I can bring experience, creativity and knowledge.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: When I'm composing, I always seek balance between invention and communication. When I'm working for someone's project, I always seek what is best for the music.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Avid Fast Track, Marshall MXL 2001 condensed microphone, cavaquinho, ukulele, keyboard, electric and acoustic guitars.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Tom Jobim, Paul McCartney, Steve Reich, Mauro Diniz, Wanderson Martins...

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Playing and recording cavaquinho, ukulele, guitar and keyboards; composing songs or instrumental themes; arranging, producing and directing shows, recordings and musical plays.