Guinga

Guinga launched his musical path by teaching himself the violão at age thirteen, later immersing himself in formal classical training on the instrument. He started composing original pieces at sixteen and offered one of them at the 1967 edition of II FIC, staged by Rede Globo in Rio. Two of his collaborations with Paulo César Pinheiro—“Conversa Com o Coração” and “Maldição de Ravel”—were recorded by MPB-4 in 1973. Though he remained close to the music scene, Guinga could not support himself solely as a musician and therefore trained as a dentist; even so, he continued to honor Brazil’s authentic samba heritage by contributing guitar to numerous recordings, among them Cartola’s second solo album from 1976, where he performed on “As Rosas Não Falam.” As an accompanist he supported Beth Carvalho, Cartola, Alaíde Costa, Clara Nunes, and João Nogueira. His debut solo concert took place in 1989 at São Paulo’s Vou Vivendo nightclub alongside Paulo César Pinheiro and Ithamara Koorax. The first album, Simples e Absurdo, appeared on Velas in 1991 and included lyrics by Aldir Blanc plus guest appearances by Chico Buarque, Cláudio Nucci, Leila Pinheiro, Paulinho Malaguti, Ivan Lins, Zé Renato, Leny Andrade, and Be Happy, among others. Delírio Carioca, issued by the same label two years later, featured Djavan, Boca Livre, and Leila Pinheiro. Almost entirely instrumental, the 1996 release Cheio de Dedos brought together Chano Dominguez, Diapasón, Chico Buarque, Nó em Pingo D’água, and Ed Motta; it earned three Prêmio Sharp honors that year—Best Instrumental Album, Best Instrumental Song for Guinga’s “Dá o Pé Loro,” and Best Production for Paulo Albuquerque. The fourth album, Suíte Leopoldina, came out on Velas in 2000 and showcased Toots Thielemans on “Dos Anjos” and “Constance,” Chico Buarque and Nei Lopes on “Parsifal,” Alceu Valença on “Chá de Panela,” Ivan Lins on “Guia de Cego,” Lenine on “Mingus Samba,” and Ed Motta on “Par Constante.” Beginning in 1993 Guinga performed abroad at the Festival Internacional de Guitarra in Córdoba, Spain, and at Festival Braziliana—Jazz House in Copenhagen, Denmark. His songs have also been interpreted by Paulo César Pinheiro, Elis Regina, Cauby Peixoto, Leila Pinheiro, Sérgio Mendes, and Turíbio Santos.