Conrado Paulino

Press Quotes
“...Sophistication, good taste, musical sense and talent are a trademark of Conrado, who reveals the beauty of instrumental brazilian music to its maximum expression.” [David Hepner, Guitar Player Magazine Brazil]
"it's like a fusion between Joe Pass and Baden Powell" [Fabio Carrilho, Violão PRO Magazine]
”...a top level guitarist ... his profile combines elements from Jazz, Samba and popular Brasilian music, along with a flawless classical guitar technique” [Lechu Gomez Aguirre, El Observador Journal, Uruguay]
“How long was I unaware of your art? I've wasted so much time! [...] I am honored to talk about the great master you are. Life is worth because of people like you.” [Roberto Menescal]
”In all tracks of the album we can feel the essence of our instrumental music in a clear way, with all its stylistic diversity, Bossa Nova-ly happy.” [Roberto Sion]
”...he knows that music does not need technical shorthands or supreme virtuosism to prove quality ... and listeners are thankful of that” [John Cardozo, Jazz+ Magazine]
"it's like a fusion between Joe Pass and Baden Powell" [Fabio Carrilho, Violão PRO Magazine]
"...listening to Conrado is pure joy, right in first track, while improvising... Always careful about swing, tuning and arrangements, he ended up recording an album where everything sounds just rounded up. Just as he wanted, of course, but where, precisely, the best moments are the solos, more spontaneous..." [Julio Daio Borges, DigestivoCultural.com ]
"Conrado is an excelent improviser and also a great harmonizer, and this can be assessed in his CD "Quartet" ... listening to Conrado Paulino is like traveling with music and becoming more free. It's like perceiving a space and time where improvisation changes from being the supporting actor to being the lead role, without eclipsing the main melody... " [Yassir Chediak, BrasilPandeiro.com.br]
"...the technique displayed by Conrado is clean, precise and powerful, always favouring musical expressiveness..."[André Martins, Cover Guitarra Magazine]
"...un trabajo muy fino y muy equilibrado, excento de virtuosismos baratos, es un verdadero trabajo de equipo, todos músicos de primer orden, y que en su momento tienen oportunidad de lucir. La música misma habla por sí sola." [Carlos Berumem, Radio Universidad (Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua), Mexico]
"...sus arreglos e interpretaciones son marcados por un moderno lenguaje armónico, uniendo equilibradamente virtuosismo y sensibilidad..."[La Capital journal, Mar del Plata, Argentina]
"... The arrangements are wonderful ... the participation of Deborah Gurgel (Triálogo) is exceptional ... there are many good guitarists, but capable of presenting a CD like this are few ..." [Shinji Onodera, Today's Frontier, Japan]
"...un talento de las cuerdas, actualmente unos de los nombres más importantes de la guitarra en Brasil...se destaca por la originalidad de sus arreglos e interpretaciones..." [Cancionero.com.ar, Argentina]
"... Conrado is definitely one of the key musicians in Brazil, showing his superb skills while producing arrangements or composing, and combining the braziling swing with the energy from Jazz and classic guitar technique..." [Gustavo Espiñera, Pravda, Russia.] (latin-american edition)
Style
The style of guitarist, composer and arranger Conrado Paulino is an original fusion of three major musical schools. The first one embraces the repertoire of Brazilian music, a universe from which his creative basis takes its shape. The second one reveals itself in a jazzy influence that becomes conspicuous in its harmonically modern concept and its ample space for improvisation on his arrangements. The last one is the utilization of classical guitar techniques, notably in his use of arpeggios and counter-melodies. In summary, a great mixture of Brazilian repertoire, jazzy language and classical techniques.
Conrado's work comprises the re-discovery and re-creation of Brazilian popular music themes as he mingles the ideas of the authors with his own ideas, mixing acclaimed compositions with his originals. He presents his research, compositions, and arrangements in concerts, performing as a solo artist or with his group, the Conrado Paulino Quartet.
Career
Conrado has accompanied several acclaimed Brazilian popular music artists such as Rosa Passos, Alaíde Costa, Johnny Alf and Sueli Costa and, as an instrumentalist, has played with such well-known artists names as Zimbo Trio, Paulinho Nogueira, Heraldo do Monte, Luiz Chaves and Hector Costita, among others. He has written many arrangements for singer Alaíde Costa and others singers such Marcia Mah. Between 1987 and 1999 he worked as teacher and headed the String Department at CLAM, the Zimbo Trio's music school. He taught several artists that later went on to gain public acclaim on the Brazilian music scene such as Chico César, Nuno Mindelis, Tomati, Camilo Carrara and Fernando Corrêa. He also was the Lessons Editor of the Brazilian edition of Guitar Player Magazine.
Took part in various festivals as a soloist and/or teacher, such as XII Festival Guitarras del Mundo (Argentina), XII Festival Internacional de Violão Dilermando Reis (Guaratinguetá, Brazil), Festival de Música de Itajaí (SC, Brazil)(three times), Festival Música na Ibiapaba (CE, Brazil)(also three times), I Festival Acústico IVT (SP, Brasil), III Encontro Cordas na Mantiqueira (S.Fco Xavier, Brazil). He has also given concerts in both Argentina and Uruguay.
Currently Conrado performs as a soloist and with his Quartet, he writes for Acústico magazine, is a member of IAJE (International Association for Jazz Education) and he teaches at ULM (São Paulo State Music University) where he teaches guitar, accompaniment and improvisation techniques. Conrado is available for clinics, workshops and performances solo, as guest soloist or with his quartet.
CONRADO PAULINO QUARTET
The musical concept of the Conrado Paulino Quartet balances Brazilian swing, with modern harmony and plenty of room for improvisation. Consisting of Conrado Paulino (acoustic guitar, Midi guitar and arrangements), Débora Picarelli Gurgel (flute and piano), Marinho Andreotti (acoustic & electric bass) and Percio Sapia (drums), the band plays instrumental Brazilian music, presenting original and sophisticated reinterpretations of the compositions of famous songwriters such as Tom Jobim, Edu Lobo, Ivan Lins, Luis Bonfá and Dorival Caymmi.
Included in this repertoire are "Doralice", "Vivo Sonhando", "Choro Bandido", "Samba da minha terra", "A Felicidade" and also Conrado's own works such as the beautiful waltz "Isabel", the fast tempo baião "Salada Nordestina" and the samba-choro "Samba da Catalina".
The ConradoPaulino Quartet has performed in venues such as the Latin America Memorial Theater, Ruth Escobar Theater, Orlandia’s City Hall Theater (SP), Sesc-Paulista Theater, Sesc-Ipiranga Theater, Sesc-Consolação Theater, Sesc-SJC Theater (SP), Centro Cultural São Paulo (CCSP-Vergueiro), SL Music Hall (Souza Lima/Berklee College), Oficinas Culturais de Sorocaba (SP), "Praça do Choro" Project, Museu da Casa Brasileira, Mix Music Hall Auditorium, Casa da Cultura de Itajaí (SC) and the San Paulo City jazz clubs All of Jazz, TonTon Jazz Music Bar, Ao Vivo Music and Villagio Café.
Check also Conrado Paulino's profile at www.allaboutjazz.com