In its eight years of existence, the Bonsai trio, formed by Mané Silveira (sax and flute), Paulo Braga (piano) and Guello (percussion), has been consolidating itself as one of the most interesting and solid works of the Brazilian popular instrumental music. Its first CD, “Bonsai Machine” (Núcleo Contemporâneo), counting on a constellation of illustrious guests (Paulo Moura, Roberto Sion, Paulo Belinatti, Toninho Ferragutti, Swami Jr. and Mário Manga, besides singers Vírginia Rosa and Ana Amélia), was considered by reviewers as one of the best launches of 1997.
In 1999, the trio attended with huge success the “Percussions International Festival”, in Mexico City, for which Guello was invited. Now, in its second CD, “DESDOBRADURAS”, the trio is starting another sound diving, always having as main reference the presence of the Brazilian Popular Music Tradition, without, however, losing interest for the spontaneity and ingenuity of jazz. Two re-readings integrate the new repertory, “Pro Zeca”, of saxophone player Victor Assis Brasil, and “Jongo”, of guitar player Paulo Belinati, as well as inedited topics by Paulo Braga, Mané Silveira and Guello.
In May 2002, the trio was invited for a concert with the São Paulo State “Symphonic Jazz Orchestra”, interpreting its own repertory, which already counts on new compositions such as “Ventania”, “Squalus” and “Golfinho” by Mané Silveira and “Cabeça de Melão”, “Muita hora nesta calma” and “Estelar” by Paulo Braga.
Mané Silveira
saxophone player, flute player, composer, adapter and teacher, besides his career in the Brazilian instrumental music, has already worked with nationally acclaimed artists, such as Arrigo Barnabé, Johnny Alf, Nelson Ayres, Roberto Sion, Eduardo Gudin, Naná Vasconcelos, Dori Caimy and Guilherme Arantes, among others, besides performances abroad with Japanese composer Seigen Ono at the festivals of Montreux, Switzerland, Time Zones, Italy, Pori Jazz Festival, Finland, with the “Chamber Popular Orchestra” Festival Miami 1999 by the University of Miami School of Music, and with “Trio Bonsai”, of “Percussions International Festival” at Centro Nacional De Las Artes, in Mexico City. He attended in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2004 the “Londrina Music Festival” in the State of Paraná, as a teacher and artist. He is a teacher at the “Tom Jobim Musical Studies Center”. His first CD, “Sax sob as Árvores”, was indicated for the Sharp Award – Instrumental Revelation Category. He participates in the “Chamber Popular Orchestra”, with which he went on a tour around Europe. In 1999, he launched, with Swami Jr. (seven-string guitar), the CD “ÍMA”. In 2001, the CD “Desdobraduras”, with Bonsai. In 2002, he performed with the São Paulo State “Symphonic Jazz Orchestra”, with the Bonsai trio. In April 2003, TV Cultura aired the program “Mané Silveira Special”. In 2004, his composition “Viagem a Saturno” was played by the Campinas Symphonic Orchestra and by the São Paulo State Symphonic Jazz Orchestra, conducted by conductors Nelson Ayres and João Maurício Gallindo, respectively.
Guello
one of the greatest Brazilian percussionists, has worked with great names of the Brazilian popular music, such as Zizi Possi, Paulo Moura, Joyce, Marco Pereira, Badi Assad, Antônio Nóbrega and Sá e Guarabira, among others. He was a member of the legendary “Mexe com Tudo” Band, which during nearly a decade entertained the São Paulo nights. He recorded with Mané Silveira the CD “Sax sob as Árvores”, indicated for the Sharp Award of Instrumental Revelation. He participated as a guest, in June 1999, of the event “Percussions of Brazil” at the SESC Vila Mariana in São Paulo, and still in that same year he was invited to attend the “Percussion International Festival” in Mexico City. He also integrates the “Mantiqueira Band” and the “Chamber Popular Orchestra”.
Paulo Braga
piano player and teacher, created the popular music department at the State Conservatory Dr. Carlos de Campos, in Tatuí, in 1990, where he currently integrates the piano and set practice area. He was one of the organizers of the first, second and third “instrumental Brazil” gatherings, at that same conservatory, supported by the São Paulo State Secretary of Culture and by Petrobrás. As and incumbent piano player of the “São Paulo State Symphonic Jazz Orchestra” he accompanied artists such as Zawinull, Milton Nascimento, Edu Lobo, Dori Caymi, Naná Vasconcelos and Turtle Island String Quartet, among others. He has already recorded with Arrigo Barnabé, Milton Nascimento, Vânia Bastos, Tetê Espíndola, Dominguinhos and Symphonic Jazz Orchestra. With Arrigo Barnabé, he has been performing, in various formations, in Brazil, Argentina and Europe.
