Sergio Santos

Sergio Santos is from Belo Horizonte in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A handsome Mulato with a friendly smile who discretely -- a characteristic of most people from Minas Gerais -- is a man of few words, Sergio is slowly building up one of the most significant works of Brazilian popular music. Guitarist, composer, interpreter and arranger, Sergio's talent and originality are confirmed by his choice of the samba as the inspiring theme for his works. His experience with samba goes a long way.

Although not born in Rio de Janeiro, the composer from Minas Gerais - throughout his musical education - became linked with samba in an original manner. He extracted the multiple rhythms which make up the style of Brazil's best known genre, from there to drift very consciously to a personal melodic and harmonic universe.

In his recording 'Mulato', Sergio presents twelve of his own compositions -- written in partnership with one of the most important lyricists of Brazilian popular music, Paulo Cesar Pinheiro. This Carioca (native of Rio de Janeiro) is a national icon. Being one of the most prolific lyric authors of this generation, Paulo has recorded approximately 1500 compositions with partners such as Tom Jobim, Pixinguinha, Edu Lobo, Ivan Lins, Baden Powell, Joyce and Dori Caymmi. About his partnership with Sergio, Paulo Cesar comments: "He is one of the few Brazilians who offers the lyric writer an extremely beautiful composition, which presents melodies that suggest verses, as if the texts of the songs were already implicit in the melody created by him."

The repertoire comprises samba and its variations, such as "marcha rancho" (slow march music for carnaval), "samba canção" (a generally romantic song), " canção praieira" (beach song), that is a fairly comprehensive view of Brazilian tradition. With 'Mulato', Sergio Santos offers a unique and original qualitative leap. Brazilian music gains another composer of international expression. —Courtesy Calabash Music