Yamandu Costa & Guto Wiritti: Schotish Choro
Yamandu Costa is a Brazilian born guitarist and composer who grew up steeped in the traditional styles of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. He was raised around this music because his father was Algacir Costa was the leader of the group Os Fronteiriços (The Frontiersmen). After striking out on his own and becoming acquainted with the music of Radamés Gnattali, Yamandu further expanded his musical language into the tour de force virtuoso he is now. His primary instrument is a seven string nylon guitar typical to Brazilian music called the violão de 7 cordas. He is a perennial award winner and a committed recording artist releasing nearly an album a year since 2000. He was also the subject of a documentary by Mika Kaurismäki in 2005 entitled Brasileirinho.
Speaking as a whole, Baltimore is not primarily thought of for its flourishing classical guitar scene, but the Baltimore Guitar Society has routinely brought in world class acts to amplify the arts community in town alongside the stellar local academic institutions and their notable alumni. Yamandu Costa is the next of these artists to be presented by the BCGS at Kaplan Concert Hall in Towson University on April 21st at 8:00pm. Yamandu's playing is ripe is virtuosity, humor, and warmth, and the concert promises to be an engaging and satisfying musical experience.
If you are unfamiliar with his music you can find his complete catalog of recordings from his official webpage, and itunes. You can also connect with the artist via Facebook before buying your ticket for the event here.
The attached video video is from DobleChapa films in Rio de Janerio in 2010 and features Yamandu and long time friend Guto Wirtti on bass performing their rendition of Heitor Villa-Lobo's Schotish Choro. I love their imaginative and free approach to a composition which I previously knew so well. I enjoy their use of ritenuto and accelerando to shape their phrases and I love Yamandu's use of articulation to express humor in music. It is near impossible not to smile while listening to this music, and I am greatly looking forward to an evening of wonderful music on April 21st. See you there.