Friday, April 2, 2010

GUITAR VIRTUOSO NIGHT IN RIO !



Finally… I went to an instrumental show. Even working at a radio station that only plays Brazilian music, it is not so common in Rio to go to concerts with out vocals. We Brazilians are completely used to this lyrical tradition and I am afraid that we do not give enough deserved attention to instrumental artists. I also do not understand why my interest for instrumental music has taken so long to manifest itself. The show at the Tom Jobim Theatre in Rio de Janeiro displayed the strength of this voiceless music.

The featured attraction of the night was a southern Brazilian with largely rounded cheeks and long flat hair worn down to his shoulders. Yamandú Costa (considered a virtuoso with his 7-string guitar) made a tribute to the bossa nova guitar legends that influenced his work like Tom Jobim, Baden Powell, Danilo Caymmi and Luiz Bonfá. Yamandú was able to awe his audience in the auditorium song after song, leaving them anxious for the next.

Every tune was delivered with such ease that Yamandú was almost dancing in his stool, flinging his hair side to side, kicking his legs to the beat and displaying a variety of different facial expressions (a trait of someone who was completely entranced by his own music). The rest of the band, including a piano, an accordion, drums and a mandolin, accompanied Yamandú in the same fashion. The communication between the artists was clear and their technical mastery was obvious.

The theatre sat quietly in admiration during this exhibition of skill and emotion that drove them to applaud graciously at the end of the performance, forcing two more encores from Yamandú and his band. The harmony between spectator and artist was perfect. A memorable experience from that rainy Tuesday night.

Written by Professional Carioca, Journalist & Music Lover
Nathália Perdomo



Yamandú Costa (Live Performance)

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