Alessandro

Alessandro Penezzi – a brazilian guitar player Born in Piracicaba (countryside city, near São Paulo) Alessandro Penezzi is a brazilian guitarist, composer and arranger. He studies music since he was seven years old and also plays many other musical instruments, such as the 7-string guitar, violão tenor (tenor guitar), cavaquinho (soprano guitar) mandolin and flute. He studied with Carlos Coimbra (Piracicaba), Jair T. de Paula (Tatuí), Sérgio Belluco (Piracicaba), João Dias Carrasqueira (SP), Marcos Cavalcanti and Ulisses Rocha (Unicamp). He studied classical guitar and graduated from Escola de Música de Piracicaba in 1997 and had his B. Sc. in Brazilian Popular Music in 2005 from Unicamp. As a tecacher, Alessandro has worked at Unicamp (EM&T – Escola de Música e Tecnologia), giving brazilian guitar and cavaquinho classes. As a group performer, Alessandro has joined with mandolinist Aleh Ferreira and cellist Júlio Ortiz, to create "Quintessência Trio". Their group has made concerts in Russia, USA and Angola. Alessandro has played with great outstanding brazilian and foreign instrumental musicians, such as Yamandú Costa, Carlos Poyares, Toninho Ferragutti, Oswaldinho do Acordeon, Laércio de Freitas, Caíto Marcondes, Arismar do Espírito Santo, Maurício Carrilho, Pedro Amorim, Joel Nascimento, Conjunto Época de Ouro, Rogério Caetano, Caio Marcio and Ted Falcon. He performed as a soloist with the Jazz Sinfônica de São Paulo orchestra and Filarmônica de São Bernando do Campo orchestra. He also played with great brazilian popular music singers: Beth Carvalho, Sílvio Caldas, Noite Ilustrada, Billy Blanco, Ivone Lara, Monarco, Nelson Sargento, Délcio Carvalho, Xangô da Mangueira, Riachão, Wilson das Neves, Francisco Petrônio, Wilson Moreira, Marília Medalha, Cristina Buarque and Mariana de Moraes. Works and prizes 2001: His first solo CD "Abismo de Rosas" is released. In the same year, he is nominated semi-finalist at 4º Prêmio Visa de Música Brasileira with his group Trio Quintessência. 2002: His Trio Quintessência releases CD "A Quintessência da Música". 2003: Concerts as a soloist in Italy. 2004: Awarded as third place in III Prêmio Nabor Pires de Camargo and nominee (as a soloist) at 7º Prêmio Visa de Música Brasileira. 2005: Participates at project "Violões do Brasil" together with Duo Assad, Guinga, Paulo Bellinati, Marco Pereira, Zé Menezes, Fábio Zanon, Gilvan de Oliveira, Toninho Horta, João Lyra and Quarteto Maogani, among others. He also releases CD "Baba de Calango" with his 'choro' group "Choro Rasgado". 2006: Awarded as third place in III Prêmio Nabor Pires de Camargo, together with 7-String guitarist Zé Barbeiro. CD "Baba de Calango" is nominated as "Best new artist" at "Prêmio TIM de Música Brasileira" awards. Also, Alessandro's work as arranger is nominated as best soundtrack in "Gota D'água" (brazilian theater play of Chico Buarque and Paulo Pontes), directed by Heron Coelho. Besides, he is invited to perform at brazilian musician Laércio de Freitas CD's "Laércio de Freitas homenageia Jacob do Bandolim" (recorded in 2007). 2006: He releases his second CD "Alessandro Penezzi", containing only authoral tracks. His musical guests in this work are: Beth Carvalho, Yamandú Costa, Amélia Rabello, Oswaldinho da Cuíca, Quinteto em Branco e Preto and Arismar do Espírito Santo, among other brazilian musicians. 2007: Now, Alessandro is recording one new CD with Maria Alice Vergueiro, outstanding brazilian theater actress, singing Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill repertoire.