Duo Violão Brasil
Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar, save perhaps two. – Fredric Chopin
Duo Violão Brasil is the result of guitarists Rogério Souza and Edinho Gerber's reverence for Brazilian guitar, the “violão”, and their desire to explore and expand the musical possibilities of putting two “violões" together. With repertoire from composers like Pixinguinha, Baden Powell, and Tom Jobim, the duo navigates effortlessly through the many styles of 20th century Brazilian popular music while showcasing original works and inventive arrangements. In 2019, sponsored by a San Francisco Arts Council Grant, they released their first album, “A História do Choro”, alongside Bay Area percussionist, Ami Molinelli, to survey the musical history and evolution of Brasil’s greatest art form, Choro, while revealing its rhythmic and harmonic permutations and, in the process, create a unique musical statement. During the pandemic, they premiered the virtual performance, “Raízes to Choro e Samba” with musicians from Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Chicago, and will release it as an EP in 2024. The duo is currently on tour with Ami as Duo Violão plus One and are working on the repertoire for their new album which will focus on the afro-samba and other African diaspora musical forms in Brazilian music.
Rogério Souza
A master of both 6 and 7 string guitars, Rogério Souza is one of the foremost representatives of the music of Rio de Janeiro. Rogério is constantly producing and performing in concerts and events that showcase traditional Brazilian music, especially Samba and Choro. He has worked with a multitude of world class Brazilian Musicians as musical director and producer for concerts, TV shows, CDs, and DVDs. Some of these artists include: Baden Powell, Paulinho da Viola, Sivuca, Ney Matogrosso, Altamiro Carrilho, João Bosco, Paulo Moura, Ivan Lins, Guinga, Turíbio Santos, Rafael Rabello, Cristovão Bastos, Nó em Pingo D’agua, Época de Ouro, Elizeth Cardoso, Elza Soares, João Nogueira, Dona Ivone Lara, Nelson Cavaquinho, Guilherme de Brito, Delcio Carvalho, Martinho da Vila, and Zeca Pagodinho.
Rogério Souza is a pioneer in developing the style of music that is known today as “choro novo” – innovative interpretations of traditional Brazilian instrumental music while remaining true to the roots of the music. He performs regularly in music festivals, concerts, and workshops throughout Latin America, Europe, the United States, and Asia. His current show focuses on the art of Brazilian guitar and includes original works as well as classic repertoire. Along with performing, Rogério frequently gives masterclasses and workshops that focus on guitar styles and cover material from his latest books and CDs.
Edinho Gerber
Edinho Gerber possesses a rich musical vocabulary developed in the two countries where he was raised: the United States and Brazil. Navigating effortlessly between the genres of choro, jazz, samba, and blues, he is always in search of the intersection points within his dual cultural identity. After being a staple in the Chicago music as an in demand sideman and playing with countless U.S. based Brazilian groups, including Som Brasil, Renato Anesi Trio, Bossa Tres, A Cor do Brasil, and leading the samba-jazz group Zona Sul, he returned to Rio de Janeiro for many years, dove even deeper into Brazilian music and joined up with Rogerio Souza to form Duo Violão. He recently returned to the US where he leads his own groups, performs with singers Ana Everling and Dill Costa, released “Benjamim e Edinho” an inventive cross cultural collaboration with Ben Lamar Gay, and tours regularly with Duo Violão. https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/benjamim-e-edinho