BIOGRAPHIES

JUSSARA SILVEIRA

Jussara Silveira has been on the road since 1980 and distinguishes herself by deciding to perform Brazilian Popular Music with no commercial compromising. Raised in Salvador, Bahia, much of her work is devoted to Bahian composers. In the '80s, she performed with Gilberto Gil and recorded with Caetano Veloso (Outras Palavras, 1981).

In 1989, Silveira left Salvador for São Paulo and now lives in Rio de Janeiro. Jussara's rendition for Caetano Veloso's "Dama do Cassino" (included in the compilation CD “Elas Cantam Caetano”) was included in the soundtrack of the soap opera “Irmãos Coragem” and reached the Top Ten of Brazilian radios. Winning the “Copene de Cultura e Arte Prize” in 1996, Silveira recorded her first CD, the independent Jussara Silveira. Extremely well received by critics, the album launched her as the new revelation from Bahia. The album was re-released in the next year by Dubas Music label.

Her second album, Canções de Caymmi, was also praised by critics. On this work, Jussara, backed by some of the best musicians in Brazil, balances some of the most widely known Caymmi's hits with less successful compositions, but which also has superior musical qualities, like the haunting, mysterious "O Vento." The next album Jussara gives a voice to emerging composers and explores little known pieces by veterans such as Chico Buarque, Jorge Ben Jor, and Tom Zé. Both Nobreza and Entre o amor e o mar were released by Maianga Discos in 2006. Nobreza is the result of her musical partnership with Luiz Brazil presenting a sophisticated voice-and-guitar duet. Entre o amor e o mar is a record rich in songs about love and the sea.

In 2009, the independent label Biscoito fino/Quitanda released the DVD/CD TRES MENINAS DO BRASIL- special project which presents Jussara Silveira with Rita Ribeiro and Teresa Cristina, directed by the well-known Brazilian musician Jaime Alem, who has been Maria Bethânia partner for 2 decades.

website: www.jussarasilveira.com.br


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ANDRE MEHMARI

He made his U.S. premiere at the 2005 edition of Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, stunning the audience with his blend of virtuosity, vitality, and musicality. Was invited to play at the TIM festival 2006, with his trio on the jazz stage. After winning the Carlos Gomes award for classical music revelation of the year of 2006, Mehmari was appointed resident composer for the São Paulo State Wind Band. Also wrote original orchestral music for the official PAN American games cerimonies, that took place on legendary Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, in July.

Released the 'Continuous Friendship' album, in duet with mandolin-virtuoso Hamilton de Holanda. In 2008 released a CD entirely dedicated to his own compositions: 'About waltzes and trees' and (aged 30) toured the northeast of Brazil with Ivan Lins, playing both Ivan's and his own compositions at the traditional Pixinguinha Project, 30th aniversary special edition. For Ivan Lins and the Metropole Orkest Amsterdam, wrote an arrangement, played under direction of Vince Mendoza.


website: www.andremehmari.com.br

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ARTHUR NESTROVSKI

Brazilian guitarist and composer Arthur Nestrovski holds a Ph.D. in Music and Literature from Iowa University (USA). He is a senior music critic for Folha de S.Paulo, and he is also a senior editor at PubliFolha, the newspaper`s publishing branch. A tenured lecturer at the Graduate College of PUC/São Paulo from 1991 to 2005, he is the author of the best-selling Notas Musicais (2000) and Outras Notas Musicais (forthcoming, 2009), among other books – including several prize-winning titles for children.

He returned to professional work as a guitar player and composer in 2004, and has since played next to Tom Zé, Zélia Duncan, and the São Paulo Jazz Symphony Orchestra, among other top Brazilian artists. He was the music director (with B. Taubkin) for Milágrimas, a new production by choreographer Ivaldo Bertazzo (available in CD/DVD). His solo guitar album Jobim Violão (2007) has just been reissued, as well as Tudo o Que Gira Parece a Felicidade, with songs and instrumental pieces for another project by Bertazzo and I. Bogéa. He is the music director for Vila Sésamo (the Brazilian version of Sesame Street), broadcast nationwide by TV Cultura.

website: www.arthurnestrovski.com