Arthur Kampela

A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, composer/singer/guitarist Arthur Kampela has been described as a "Brazilian Frank Zappa." Coming of age in the post-Bossa Nova era, his music was influenced by the Tropicalismo movement - a politically-oriented fusing of Brazilian popular and experimental music - and Western avant-garde tendencies. His compositions have been performed at international festivals of New Music, and he has won two major South American composition competitions (Caracas and Uruguay, respectively). His hybrid music can be heard in clubs, halls and underground venues in Brazil and New York. Kampela is also one of the true innovators of contemporary guitar music. With his series of "Percussion Studies" for solo guitar, he has created an entirely new playing technique for the guitar: the "tapping technique" which combines traditional techniques with noise-oriented, percussive effects. The New York Times has written: "Extraordinary pieces ... Kampela's effects were fascinatingly inventive. The best was his use of a spoon to give the guitar a wavery, underwater sound." Kampela's band includes (NY): Jose Moura (bass M.B.Band guy!); Dan Barrett (cello), Denise puricelli (piano) Gregor Kitzis (violin/viola) and Javier Diaz, and John Ostrowski (percussion). My piece " Antropofagia" for electric guitar and large chamber ensemble was premiered this past year in Germany, Stuttgart, by the Kammerensemble Neue Musik Berlin (KNM) at the World Music Days (ISCM 2006). I just came back from Strasbourg (June 2007) after 2 very successful premieres: "Percussion Study V" for viola alla chitarra and electroacoustic sounds and "Elastics" for flute, guitar and electroacoustic sounds (Mario Caroli, flute(s), Pablo Marquez, guitar and viola) both members of the fantastic Ensemble LINEA of Strasbourg. The premiere happened at the Museum of Modern Art, in a great setting, and concluded the program with "Microphonie" of Stockhausen! After the show, I and my bass player Jose Moura went on to play at another venue: the theater 'Hall des Chars'; the show included my pop-hybrid avant-Bossas-Novas, atonal sambas & lots of my more complex contemporary pieces in the mix. I will keep you posted!... AK