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Marcos Paiva

Music changing people

About Me

Marcos Paiva began his solo career in 2007 with the release of the CDs São Mateus (Marcos Paiva Sexteto) and Regra de Três (alongside Lupa Santiago and Bob Waytt). Since then, it has stood out in the Brazilian music scene and drawing the attention of critics and the public by tracing a path of its own and with a lot of identity.

In 2022, Marcos produced his eighth album, Slamousike. The album featured rappers from the São Paulo music scene. Max B.O., Juliana Jesus, Kivitz and Killa, who rhymed and composed songs with the bassist, in addition to their sextet, the MP6, formed by Cassio Ferreira (sax and flute), Daniel Dalcântara (trp), Edu Ribeiro (drums), Gutavo Bugni (p), Jaziel Gomes (p) and the musician himself to the bass, composition and musical direction.

Marcos also produced the works of singers Mikka A. and Maria Pérola, which will be released this second semester and released his second book: Brazilian Idiomatic Improvisation - Choro Vol.1 (MP6/2022); also participates in the Musical O Pequeno Príncipe. In 2021, the musician recorded the 1st digital and interactive jazz festival in Brazil - Mosaico Jazz Festival and the LIVES of vibraphonist Ricardo Valverde (CD Xirê de Vibrafone) and singer Bia Goes (CD Nossa Chão).

Paiva also did the musical direction and arrangements of the documentary Divinas Brasileiras (Mpumalanga Institute), with Ná Ozzetti, Nilze Carvalho, Luciana Oliveira, Fabiana Cozza, Choronas and Renata Jambeiro, produced the CD of the composer Pablo Bertola (from the group Ponto de Partida and coordinator of Bituca Universidade Livre de Música) and recorded basses for the album of the São Paulo composer Álvaro Cuevas and the Portuguese singer Camilla Inês. The musician also recorded and arranged two projects for the singer Gláucia Nasser. For the Brazilian Landscapes project, Paiva produced 5 tracks with a focus on bass and voice. And for The First Glimpses of the Sun of justice, he reinvented four classics by composer Chiquinha Gonzaga. Marcos Paiva was still in the cast of the Musical Barnun - The King of the Show with debut for October.

In 2020, Marcos released the album Ensemble Choro Erudito, alongside the vibraphonist Ricardo Valverde and the violinist Wanessa Dourado. The album was very well received by critics. The album was produced by bassist and vibraphonist and released by Kuarup Records. In 2019, he was invited by the Savassi Festival as resident composer. The work was delivered in October of that same year (and should have premiered this year 2020). That same year, Marcos recorded and released the album Cantos Populares do Brasil, by Elsie Houston, from the project Goma-Laca (producers Biancamaria Binazzi and Ronaldo Evangelista), alongside Alessandra lion, Junior Kaboclo, Siba, Marcelo Pretto, Rodrigo Caçapa and other artists.

The musician performed with his sextet, MP6, on the show Slamousike, alongside rappers Kivitz and Max B.O.; participated in the release of the album We, flutist Maiara Moraes, where in addition to bass, was the musical producer (next to the flutist) in Belo Horizonte, at Palco Savassi Festival Records; and acted in the musicals Dona Ivone Lara -A Sorriso Negro, Gota D'Água [A Seco] and Além do Ar (A Musical Inspired by Santos Dumont).

In 2018, the bassist recorded the album Yellow Sax Marine, saxophonist Leo Gandelman and Julio Bittencourt Trio, which was released in early 2019. Marcos debuted the Slamousike project, alongside his sextet, MP6, and rappers Kivitz, Max BO and Stefanie in the theater of Sesc Belenzinho and participated in the recording of the songs of composer Amado Maita, produced by Ronaldo Evangelista, which is scheduled to be released in 2021. In this project, which will feature great names of the new generation of singers, Marcos made the arrangements and musical direction. Also in 2018, Paiva participated in the Guimarães Jazz Festival, in Portugal, alongside the flutist Lea Freire. The flutist group played with the Guimarães Orchestra the album Cartas Brasileiras. Parallel to this, the musician continued promoting his award-winning album Concerto for Pixinguinha, alongside singer Vânia Bastos and her quartet.

In 2017, Marcos Paiva published his first book: O Contrabaixo na Roda de Choro. The book translates to the bass the universe of counterpoints (made on 7-string guitars) of Choro. The book was published in Europe by the German publisher Edition Gruber. This material points to a new aesthetic and technical path for the instrument and is the first with this approach made in Brazil. Marcos also won the PPM -2017 -Music Professionals Award, in the category Choro Artist, alongside the singer Vânia Bastos. He acted, in addition to his own projects, alongside saxophonist Leo Gandelman and the Julio Bittencourt Trio in the show Yellow Sax Marine, with the repertoire of the Beatles in jazz.

The bassist released in the second half of this year, alongside the São Paulo singer Vânia Bastos, the CD Concerto for Pixinguinha -Vânia Bastos and Marcos Paiva. Based on the repertoire of the Brazilian genius, Marcos wrote arrangements for songs sung by Pixinguinha and recorded alongside his quartet four instrumental songs. These two albums were very well received by the press and music critics, with articles in the newspapers Folha de SP, State of SP, O Globo, Estado de Minas and many other vehicles in Brazil.

In February 2015, Marcos released his 4th album, the CD Choroso, where, along with his trio of double bass, saxophone and drums, proposes an aesthetic opening to choro making this genre genuinely Brazilian in a more universal sound. The release, which took place in the Auditorium of Sesc Pinheiros, had the participation of Nailor Proveta, leader of Banda Mantiqueira and was sold out quickly. The CD had the booklet signed by the critic Carlos Calado and won praise from journalists from all over Brazil, for the uniqueness of the sound found and built by the musician. The critic Mauro Ferreira closes his review of the album saying “For the naturalness of the fusion of choro with jazz, Choroso confirms Marcos Paiva as one of the most brilliant musicians of the contemporary Brazilian instrumental scene”. In addition to the various release shows of the CD Choroso, Marcos Paiva acted alongside Vânia Bastos in the tribute show to Pixinguinha and performed shows alongside his sextet - the MP6 (Virada Sustentável and Projeto Samba Jazz +50, Sesc Campo Limpo).

In 2014, Marcos toured the Sesc Rio network performing with his trio the musical show “40 Years Without Pixinguinha”, where he shared stage with singers Maria Alcina and Vânia Bastos. Before the shows, he presented in all theaters the workshop Pixinguinha and the Invention of a Genre. In the same year, he participated with his sextet of the renowned festivals “Instrumental Panel of the Conservatory of Tatuí”, where he gave an open class on his music and his career, and at the Jazz & Blues Festival (Sesc São Paulo). He was also part of the project “Pulsassom” of Sesc Ipiranga-SP and directed and arranged the show “Lupicínio Rodrigues -100 Years”.

In 2013, he was invited by New York saxophonist Ilhan Ershain to participate, alongside the Turkish clarinetist Husnu Selendrici, of the Istanbul Agora project. He played alongside his sextet at the Nublu Jazz Festival which celebrates jazz culture in the cities of São Paulo, Istanbul and New York. Marcos Paiva Sexteto was the only Brazilian attraction to perform at the festival. He also did the musical direction and arrangements of the show “Amado Maita - 40 years of LP”, with the participation of singers Luisa Maita, BNegão, Ed Motta, Curumim, Bruno Morais, Tiganá Santana, and pianists Laércio de Freitas and Marcelo Maita, and his. Marcos was invited by cultural producer Myriam Taubkin to be part of the show “Na Mira da Música Brasileira -3”, with musicians from various regions of Brazil and with shows in the Ibirapuera Auditorium.

In February 2012, Marcos Paiva Sexteto released his 3rd CD, Meu Samba no Prato -Tribute to Edison Machado, where he honors the aesthetics of Brazilian samba jazz of the 60s, in particular the anthological album of drummer Edison Machado titled “Edison Machado é Samba Novo”. The CD, which was pre-selected for the 24th Brazilian Music Award 2013, had positive reviews in the newspapers O Globo (Luiz Fernando Vianna), Folha de SP (Ronaldo Evangelista), O Estado de São Paulo (Julio Maria) and Estado de Minas (Eduardo Tristão). It was also highlighted in magazines such as Carta Capital (Tárik de Souza), Veja (Sergio Martins), Rolling Stones (Paulo Cavalcanti), Revista Brasileiros (Luiz Chagas) and Revista Raça. He was on the List of the Best Albums of the Year of the Valor Econômico newspaper and had the track “Edison #3” on the Rolling Stone Hot List (Mar/2012). The musician launched his solo career in November 2007, with the release of the album São Mateus, in the project Sesc Brasil Instrumental -Rede Sesc TV. The CD had a strong impact in the musical and critical environment. In February of that same year, Marcos recorded the CD Regra de Três with drummer Bob Wyatt and guitarist Lupa Santiago.

As producer and musical director, Marcos Paiva signed the production of two CDs by singer Fabiana Cozza, “O Samba é Meu Dom” and “Quando o Céu Clarear” -nominated for the Tim Award 2006 and 2008 -and the DVD “Quando o Céu Clarear”, with the participation of Maria Rita and Rappin. Marcos Paiva has shared the stage with great artists and instrumentalists. Among the names of Brazilian vocal music, the musician has performed alongside Bibi Ferreira, Zizi Possi, Ná Ozzetti, Danilo Caymmi, Maria Alcina, Fabiana Cozza, Cauby Peixoto, Ana Caram, Lucinha Lins, Agnaldo Rayol and Virginia Rosa. Among the international highlights, Marcos played with artists such as the pianist based in France, Tânia Maria, the Mexican singer Magos Herrera, the Cuban Fernando Ferrer and the Portuguese singer Teresa Salgueiro, egressa of the group Madredeus, with whom he toured Europe (France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Luxembourg and Servia), America (Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil and Chile) and Israel in 2007 and 2008. The bassist performed in the musicals Chaplin (2018) and Dona Ivone Lara -A Black Smile (2019).

In instrumental music, Paiva played with Yaniel Mattos, Marquinho Mendonça, Pepe Cisneiros, Bob Wyatt, Michel Freidesson, Lupa Santiago, Daniel D'Alcântara, Rubinho Antunes, Fabiano Araújo, Besides participating in the most important bands of the city of São Paulo as the Heart Breakers & Guga Stroeter Orchestra, the Sound Scape Big band and the groups Cacique Jazz Combo, Banda Urbana and the pop-orchestral group Nouvelle Cousine. Marcos was a professor at the renowned Tatuí Conservatory in 2007 and 2008, where he taught weekly acoustic bass classes. He was an artist-advisor of the Vocational Program of the City of São Paulo (2016 and 2015), Oficineiros and ministered dozens of workshops in Brazil. Master in Music from UNICAMP (State University of Campinas) and graduated in Music Degree from Faculdade Fito - Fundação Instituto Tecnológico de Osasco. Born in Tupã (SP), Marcos grew up in the city of Viçosa, in the interior of Minas Gerais; lived in Rio de Janeiro and moved to São Paulo in 2000. Born in Tupã (SP), Marcos grew up in the city of Viçosa, in the interior of Minas Gerais; lived in Rio de Janeiro and moved to São Paulo in 2000.

My Jazz Story

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