Nilson Chaves

Since 1975 Nilson Chaves has made Rio de Janeiro his home while retaining a powerful musical impact across the Amazon, where he ranks among the region’s most prominent cultural figures. His fourth album, Amazônia (1990), earned five Sharp-prize nominations, and Tempodestino, 25 Anos Ao Vivo later received a nomination at the inaugural Latin Grammy Awards. Shortly after settling in Rio he began collaborations with Luli e Lucina and Tereza Tinoco, both of whom included his compositions on their recordings. His debut solo effort, Dança de Tudo, appeared in 1981; the follow-up, Interior (1986), was a joint project with Vital Lima. Another shared release with Vital Lima, Waldemar, offered fresh interpretations of pieces by the noted composer Waldemar Henrique and reached the Top Ten of the O Globo newspaper chart. One track from Não Peguei o Ita, “Passarinho e Homem,” won the Sharp prize for Best Arrangement.

In 1997 Chaves and Sebastião Tapajós issued the CD Amazônia Brasileira, drawn from concerts the duo had presented throughout Brazil and in Berlin that September. The following year the pair toured Germany and France; upon returning, Chaves joined Chico César for performances across northern Brazil. In July 1999 he appeared once more in France, this time at the Latin American Music Festival. After serving as musical director of the Cantorias Amazônicas project at the Cultural Center Banco do Brasil in January and February 2000—introducing Amazonian repertoire to Rio audiences—he spent September in Europe promoting the album Tudo Índio, released on the German label Tupirama Music.

Marking twenty-five years in music, the live recording Tempodestino, 25 Anos Ao Vivo—captured with choir and orchestra—was again nominated at the first Latin Grammy Awards, this time for Best Album of Brazilian Regional Music. For his fiftieth birthday in November 2001, Chaves organized a large-scale concert in the Amazon that drew twenty thousand listeners and featured Ivan Lins, Sá, Rodrix e Guarabira, Zeca Baleiro, Fafá de Belém, Sebastião Tapajós, Zé Renato, Boca Livre, Flávio Venturini, Ednardo, Vital Lima, Chico César, Sandra de Sá, Paulinho Moska, Jane Duboc, Celso Viáfora, Luli e Lucina, and additional artists.