Left to right: Rafael Barata, Scott Thompson, Chico Pinheiro
I recently met the Brazilian musician, Chico Pinheiro, after his performance with his trio at the de Young Museum in San Francisco with Chico Pinheiro on guitar and voice, Rafael Barata on drums, and Scott Thompson on bass. Pinheiro is a composer as well as guitarist and singer, and he is considered one of the best artists in his generation of contemporary Brazilian music. I have always liked Brazilian music (especially Bossa Nova), and Pinheiro’s new-wave Brazilian music is a unique mélange of freshness and tradition. When hearing his voice and watching his concentration in performance, I had a sense that music was not just his profession, but also a defining part of his essence. After the performance, he was kind enough to spend some time chatting with me. Not only is he a fantastic guitarist with an amazing voice, he is also a very sweet guy!
