Os Carioquinhas

Rafael Rabello, the remarkable violonista and acoustic guitar player, launched Os Carioquinhas as his very first ensemble at age fourteen. Emerging from the choro revival that swept across Brazil in the seventies, the group distinguished itself through its relaxed yet swinging approach. Rabello played seven-string violão, Maurício Carrilho handled violão, Luciana Rabello—his sister—took cavaquinho, Celso Silva played clarinet, Paulinho do Bandolim performed on mandolin, and Mário supplied percussion. Os Carioquinhas recorded for Som Livre, and soon after the members joined forces in 1977 they issued the excellent LP Os Carioquinhas no Choro. The album featured Alcyr Pires Vermelho’s choro “Gadu Namorando,” which served as the theme for a major news program on TV Globo.