TRIO MADEIRA BRASIL A meeting of three virtuosos O Trio Madeira Brasil Trio Madeira Brasil is one of the most exciting groups to emerge in the world of instrumental music in recent years. It brings together three virtuosos with the idea of making music that at the same time is both energetic and refined. Their repertoire includes the classic as well as the eclectic, representing the best of Brazilian culture, while also attentive to influences from other cultures. Program I      Back With an overwhelmingly positive response from both the general public as well as critics from the most important newspapers in Brazil, Trio Madeira Brasil’s first CD was considered one of the best instrumental recordings in Brazil the year it was released. It is also considered one of the best recordings of all times in the musical genre known as Choro, a genre that is truly Brazilian, and at the heart of their sound. TMB was awarded the Prêmio Sharp (Sharp Award) for both “Best CD” and “Best Group”. This attention led to the group being invited to play at some of the most important music festivals in Brazil, alongside of such reknown artists as the guitarist Baden Powell, with whom they recorded a special for French TV; the composer Egberto Gismonti (Sesc-Pompéia-SP); and the singer Zé Renato, with whom they released a CD featuring the music of Noel Rosa and Chico Buarque. After the enormous attention they received for their participation in the Free Jazz Festival 99 – where they were selected as the only national group to be given a top ranking by the newspaper O Globo (RJ) – TMB toured Brazil extensively, expanding their audience while playing only Brazilian music of the highest level of quality. International attention began to follow TMB’s success at home and they have been performing abroad ever since. In 2002, they were the first Brazilian group ever to be invited to play in French Polynesia, when they toured the Tahiti Islands. In 2003 they also toured extensively in France, Columbia and Portugal. With generous space for improvisation, Trio Madeira Brasil’s arrangements provide the perfect balance between the traditional and the modern. The diverse experiences of each of the group’s members combine to create a unique conceptuality Ronaldo do Bandolim (1950) Before diving deeply into the world of Choro, he built a solid reputation as a guitarist, dominating the classical repertoire and winning significant prizes in guitar competitions. He received a Masters of Music at The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). He has already played and recorded with artists such as Armandinho, Francis Hime, Wagner Tiso, Zé Renato and Elza Soares. He released his first CD Lendas Brazileiras, which featured his arrangements for solo guitar of classics from the Brazilian repertoire. Sob o Redentor, his second CD, features original compositions, two of which were written in partnership with one of Brazil’s top lyricists Aldir Blanc. The CD also features special guests such as Dominguinhos, Leila Pinheiro, Elza Soares among others. Zé Paulo Becker (1968) (1968) antes de mergulhar fundo no mundo do Choro, construiu uma sólida reputação como violonista, dominando o repertório clássico e ganhando prêmios significativos em concursos de violão. É mestre em música pela UFRJ. Lançou os CDs Lendas Brasileiras, com arranjos para violão solo de clássicos da música brasileira e Sob o Redentor, com composições próprias, sendo duas em parceria com Aldir Blanc. Marcello Gonçalves (1972) Is already one of the most in demand 7 string guitarist on the scene today, having played and recorded with artists such as Elza Soares, Elton Medeiros, Baden Powell, Ney Matogrosso e Gal Costa. He recorded the CD Bach in Brazil for EMI Classics which was promoted with a tour of Portugal and England. He has performed in Finland and Venezuela with Henrique Cazes to promote their duo CD Pixinguinha de Bolso. He is also a member of the group Rabo de Lagartixa.