Alexandre Birkett

Guitarrist, composer and arranger born in Santos - SP - Brazil. Just released “TEMPORAL” (Marine Music - 2006), his first solo album playing his own compositions with the participation of musicians as Célio Barros, Washington Soares, Alberto Luccas, John Stowell, Binho and Vanderson Franco, and Plinio Romero among others. Acknowledged to be one of Brazil’s leading guitar players of his generation and authority on the Brazilian rhythms, Birkett is intensely active in his country musical scene, a rare creative personality, and a dynamic performer. He is a founding member of the groups JAZZILEIRA - Birkett (elec.guitar/ac guitar), Ricardo Teixeira (drums), Nei Rocha (acoustic bass) , Robinho Nogueira (piano), Celso Lago (voice), Mauricio Fernandes (alto/tenor/soprano sax), Everaldo Cassimiro (trombone), Doriel Oliveira (trombone), Washington Ciocci (trumpet/flugelhorn), Paulo Marques (trumpet), André Farias (flute) , Roberto Bendas (baritone sax) and ALEXANDRE BIRKETT GROUP – Alexandre Birkett (ac. and elec. guitars, cavaquinho) , Washington Soares (bass), Alexandre Faccas (drums/perc). With Banda Jazzileira he recorded the CD “ Banda Jazzileira “playing music by Edu Lobo, Tom Jobim , Duke Ellington and Paquito D’Rivera. Since 1986 actively playing in some situations like Jazz, Samba, Choro, etc… With his group toured in Brazil ( Bahia, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Norte, Mato Grosso do Sul). In partnership with bassist Washington Soares he recorded 2 CDs “ Trem pra Ribeirão “ (independent – 1999) and “ Feira Livre “ (independent – 2001) and together with multi-percussionist/drummer Robertinho Silva the CD " Mixtura Brasileira “ (Marine Music - 2003). Since 2004, he has been the artistic director and producer of the “ Buarquianas “ Project performing Chico Buarque’s compositions (SESC – Santos 2004 and 2005), “Cidadão “ Project (2005), Casa do Jazz (SESC - Pinheiros- SP) In this project Birkett has played the most important interpreters and composers of the Jazz guitar genre, including Oscar Alemán, Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Django Reinhardt, and many more. He has also performed, toured or recorded with: Luis Melodia, Luisa Maita, Tutti Baê, João Suplicy, Tatiana Cobbett and Marco Oliva, Filó Machado, Louis Plessier, John Stowell, Robertinho Silva, Célio Barros, Jazzileira, Celso Lago, Giovana Razuk,Osvaldinho do Acordeon, Toninho Horta, Claudio Celso, Luis Claudio Santos, Vanessa Lemes, Karol Antunes, Mirian Liz and others. And he wrote many tunes and songs, in partnership with Paulo Maymone, Tutti Baê, Tatiana Cobbett, Chico Leite, Mariana Merola, Aguinaldo Pereira, Julinho Bittencourt among others. ------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------