Swami Jr
Guitarist (7-string), bassist, arranger, composer and producer, Swami Jr. is one of the most in demand and active Brazilian musicians, not only accompanying and directing but also producing his own works and works of other artists.
In his already long career, he has recorded and performed with some of the most important artists at Brazilian and international music events, such as Omara Portuondo (Cuba), Chico César, Elba Ramalho, Lokua Kanza (Congo), Zélia Duncan, Vanessa da Mata, Elza Soares, Zeca Baleiro, MPB4, Tom Zé, Rita Ribeiro, Luciana Souza, José Miguel Wisnik, Ná Ozzetti, Danilo Caymmi, Rosa Virginia, Chico Pinheiro, Vânia Bastos, Luiz Tatit, Marco Pereira, Marcos Suzano, Moska, Dominguinhos among others.
He released, together with saxophonist Mané Silveira, the CD “Imã” for the Núcleo Contemporâneo label (Brazil, 2000). As a composer, his song (in partnership with Paulo Freire) Bom Dia recorded by Zizi Possi on her album Valsa Brasileira (Velas, Brazil, 1994), awarded with the important Sharp Trophy for best album of that year; the song Fim de Ano (in partnership with Jose Miguel Wisnik) recorded by Vânia Bastos at her album Diversões Não Eletrônicas (Velas, Brazil, 1997); and the song Vou na Vida, a partnership with Virgínia Rosa, recorded by her own at the album Batuque (Movie Play, Brazil, 1997).
In 2009, he launched his solo album of songs, named Outra Praia. This work includes performances by Zélia Duncan, Vanessa da Mata, Chico César, Zeca Baleiro, Marcelo Pretto, Luciana Alves and Chico Pinheiro. It also brings original compositions of Swami Jr. alone and in partnership with José Miguel Wisnik, Chico César, Zeca Baleiro, Chico Pinheiro and Rosa Virgínia.
He participated, in 2003, of the album recordings of the great Cuban singer Omara Portuondo (Buena Vista Social Club) in Havana (Cuba), along with musicians such as Cachaito, Roberto Fonseca, Demeétrio Muniz, Barbarito Torres and Amadito Valdés. Following the conclusion of this fantastic work, Swami Jr. became Omara’s musical director in the worldwide launching tour by the end of 2007.
In 2003, he took part at the Seven String Project — A Brazilian Guitar, held at Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (São Paulo – SP), alongside some of the biggest Brazilian guitarists like Dino 7 Cordas, Yamandu Costa, Rogério Caetano, among others.
In 2006, he won the best arrangement award at the Festival Cultura (TV Cultura) for the song Contabilidade, a composition of Danilo Moraes and Ricardo Tete that also won the music festival. On that same year, he was nominated for the Tim Award, as the producer (along with Zeca Baleiro and Walter Souza) of the album Ode Descontínua e Remota para Oboé e Flauta – De Ariana para Dionísio, which had the participation of Maria Bethânia, Zélia Duncan, Ângela Maria, Mônica Salmaso, Ná Ozzetti, Rita Ribeiro, Jussara Silveira, Verônica Sabino, Olívia Byington and Angela Rô Rô.
Swami Jr. was nominated to the 2006 Latin Grammy in the category “Sound Engineering” (together with Cotô Guarino) for its work on the album De Uns Tempos Pra Cá, of the composer Chico César.
Produced, along with Jaime Alem, the album Maria Bethania and Omara Portuondo, recorded in Rio de Janeiro early 2007, for the Biscoito Fino label. Such work was the winner of the 2009 Brazilian Music Award (formerly Tim Award) in the special projects’ category.
In 2008, he produced, with Ale Siqueira, the album Gracias by Omara Portuondo (World Village / Harmonia Mundi, 2008), awarded the Best Contemporary Tropical Album at the 2009 edition of the Latin Grammy. The CD was recorded in Cuba with the participation of Trilok Gurtu, Avishai Cohen, Roberto Fonseca, Andrés Coayo, Orlando Cachaito Lopez, Chico Buarque, Jorge Drexler, Pablo Milanés and Chucho Valdés, and its launch, held in September 2008, was followed by a large world tour by the end of 2010.
Now in 2011, Swami Jr. has just released his new work: the album Mundos e Fundos (Borandá, Brazil), produced with funding from the 2010 Funarte Award for Music Recording Support. This album, entirely instrumental, consolidates the guitarist and composer as “one of the most versatile and creative musicians on today’s musical scene” (Carlos Calado).