Danilo Brito, BRAZIL – DB9

It’s been said that Danilo Brito at the age of three took his father’s mandolin from a chair and played the separate strings clearly. At the age of five, he once surprised everyone in the room by playing a sequence from the song “Delicado”, by Waldir Azevedo, that he had learned on his own.

He lived for a year in Paraíba (in the farm, where his father was born), at the age of eleven, where he had the opportunity to learn some tunes with Antônio Messias, an old family friend, acquiring new repertoire and improving his technique on the mandolin and cavaco, a four strings brazilian instrument that can be tuned in the same way as mandolin.

It was there where he achieved flawless execution on a piece called “Vôo da Mosca” by Jacob do Bandolim (a technically demanding waltz) and made his first live radio program.

Danilo was impressive not only because of his youth but also because of his superb technique with which he executed waltz, choros, polkas, sambas and frevos. He began to receive invitations from celebrities and artists to perform and to give demonstrations of his talent and interviews to the press. He then started giving his first musical concerts on stage. The first time he played a solo performance was at UNIBAN (Bandeirantes University), along with the group Bachorando, whose leader was his friend, the guitarist Nelson Galleano, affectionately referred to as Balói.

The producer Téo Azevedo met Danilo Brito at one of those choro circles and was so impressed that he immediately wanted to record his music. When he asked Danilo if he would like to record an album, the answer was “yes” but Téo Azevedo responded: “Now I’m going to have to talk to your father, you are very young”. Then, at 13, with full support from his family and friends, his first CD, “Moleque Atrevido”, was recorded containing songs by Chiquinha Gonzaga, Jacob do Bandolim , Waldir Azevedo and others.

In winning the VISA Awards he gained the opportunity to record a CD with the Eldorado Recording Company. This second CD, entitled “Perambulando”, came out in 2005. Besides many traditional choro pieces, the CD contained some of his own compositions including the blistering Sussuarana as well as the title track. His tenor guitar work is featured on “Um Choro na Madrugada” and he has been highly praised for his interpretation of Confidências, by the great choro pioneer Ernesto Nazareth. He was joined on several pieces by legendary musicians such as Altamiro Carrilho on flute, Toninho Ferragutti on accordion, and Nailor Profeta on clarinet.

This CD has demonstrated his clear musical characteristics in full bloom: inspirational composer, an emotional depth and respect in his interpretations of other composers, and his incredible command of the instrument.

• Danilo Brito official site