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Jazz Caliente: The Brilliant Brazilian Guitar of Yamandu Costa

Yamandu Costa in São Paulo, 2011
Fronteiras do Pensamento
/
courtesy of the artist
Yamandu Costa in São Paulo, 2011"

Brazil is known for producing an astonishing number of guitar virtuosi.  Leading the next generation of wizards of the strings, Yamandu Costa is a unique improviser, composer and master of the 7-string guitar.

He started guitar lessons at age 7, and made his public debut at 17 in a Banco do Brasil Cultural Tour.  Yamandu's reputation as one of the most gifted Brazilian guitarists expanded when he was featured in a documentary about Brazil's traditional choro music, Brasileirihno.

Yamandu's own compositions are a unique mix of styles from different regions of Brazil, plus choro and samba.  His lightning-fast yet delicate technique has to be seen to be believed.

Yamandu's latest album Recanto has been nominated for a 2018 Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental Album, and his project called Quebranto with another exceptional 7-string guitarist, Alessandro Penezzi, just won the Prêmio da Musica Brasileira (Brazilian version of the Grammy) for Best Instrumental Album.

Yamandu Costa and long-time collaborator bassist Guto Wirtti will be in concert atKirkland Performance Center this Sunday, October 21.  It will be an evening to remember. 

Jazz Caliente airs Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.  The show is hosted by Robin Lloyd and produced by KNKX Public Radio.

Originally from Detroit, Robin Lloyd has been presenting jazz, blues and Latin jazz on public radio for nearly 40 years. She's a member of the Jazz Education Network and the Jazz Journalists Association.