Biography
Guilherme Vergueiro received his earliest musical instruction from his grandfather, the celebrated classical Brazilian pianist Guilherme Fontainha, and from Fontainha’s assistant Fumiko Kuwanami. He later pursued studies in serial composition and aesthetics under the influential composer H.J. Koellreuter while also working on harmony and counterpoint with Paulo Herculano. His professional life commenced in 1970 with regular appearances in São Paulo and Rio nightclubs. During the repressive years of military rule, many leading musicians departed the country, allowing Vergueiro, as he later acknowledged with characteristic modesty, to perform alongside seasoned professionals and absorb their expertise. In that period he collaborated with drummer Edison Machado, vocalist Agostinho dos Santos of the Black Orpheus soundtrack, singer Leny Andrade, bossa-nova pioneer Johnny Alf, Alaíde Costa, and others, while also directing his own trios and quartets. In 1973 he served as musical director for the play Labirinto, o Balanço da Vida, which received the Molière Prize as production of the year. Two years later police detained him along with twelve fellow artists; after being photographed and fingerprinted he was released, an experience that prompted him to relocate to New York amid feelings of depression and anxiety. Within months he met bassist Walter Booker, and together they formed the ensemble Love, Carnival and Dreams, presenting Vergueiro’s original arrangements and compositions at such venues as the Village Gate and Boomers. He was subsequently engaged as musical director of Cachaça, then the city’s sole Brazilian nightclub, where he performed six nights a week for two and a half years. In December 1979 he returned to Brazil and issued his debut album, Naturalmente, which was followed by tours through numerous state capitals. As pianist and arranger he contributed to recordings by Carlinhos Vergueiro, Chico Buarque, Djavan, Leny Andrade, Raul de Souza, Nico Assumpção, Claudio Guimarães, Raul Mascarenhas, Rafael Rabello, and additional artists. His second album, Só por Amor, likewise led to an extensive touring schedule. Invited to Denmark to teach and lecture on Brazilian music, he presented concerts, recorded Live in Copenhagen, traveled through France and Italy, and then came back to Brazil. Between 1983 and 1986 he appeared at major events including the Festival Internacional de Jazz in São Paulo, the Free Jazz Festival in Rio, festivals in Brasília and Recife, and the Festival de Campos do Jordão. In 1986 he gave a solo recital documented by the Imagery and Sound Museum of São Paulo, performed at the opening of the Modern Art Exhibition with his quartet and thirteen members of the Symphonic Orchestra of São Paulo, and participated with a brass orchestra in the awards ceremony of the I Video Festival. Throughout 1997 and 1998 he presented duo performances with trombonist Raul de Souza, flutist Lea Freire, and vocalists Rosa Maria and Miúcha. He also toured Spain with singer Nana Caymmi and with the group Guilherme Vergueiro + 5, whose members were Sisão Machado on bass, Duda Neves on drums, Claudio Guimarães on guitar, Edu Helou on keyboards, and Teco Cardoso on saxophones and flutes, and he appeared again at the Free Jazz Festival in Rio de Janeiro. During 1988 and 1989 he immersed himself in the traditional samba of Rio’s hillside communities through his association with the Escola de Samba da Mangueira and its Bateria percussion section. In 1989 he returned to France for further performances and joined flutist Nicola Stilo for concerts in Italy, including an appearance at Parc Tulerie in Paris during the Bastille bicentennial celebrations. Settling in Los Angeles in 1990, he established the Guilherme Vergueiro Brazilian Big Band, which continues to perform there on occasion. With bassist Ron Carter and drummer Robertinho Silva he played engagements in Rio and São Paulo. From 1994 to 1995 he worked with Hugh Masekela and guitarist Raphael Rabello. In 1995 the album Love, Carnival and Dreams was released featuring Ron Carter and Robertinho Silva; that same year Vergueiro received nominations from both the Herb Alpert Foundation for the Arts and California State University in recognition of his overall body of work. He also led a group comprising Wayne Shorter, Wallace Rooney, Raul de Souza, Laudir de Oliveira, Mads Vinding, and Robertinho Silva at the Heineken Festival in Rio and São Paulo. Three solo recitals took place at Teatro Hilton in São Paulo during 1996. The following year he issued the solo album Molambo and produced and arranged Mike Stoller’s Amazon Moon. In 1999 he appeared as a guest of saxophonist Don Menza. The label Naim released his recording Espiritu in 2000, which included guest seven-string guitarist Carlos dos Santos.
Albums
