The Trio performs the music of Brazilian guitarist, Roberto Baden Powell de Aquino aka Baden Powell (1937- 2000), long recognized as one of the most important guitarists in Brazilian music history. He combined classical techniques with popular harmony and swing. He performed in many styles, including bossa nova, samba, Choro, Brazilian jazz and música popular brasileira.
Special emphasis will be placed on songs from the Afro Sambas, a series of songs composed by Baden and Vinicius de Moraes combining Samba rhythms with African religious rhythms. These songs have long been recognized as the first example of Afro Brazilian culture being brought into Popular Brazilian Music.
The Trio features:
Joe Carter – guitar
Nilson Matta – bass
Graciliano Zambonin - drumsGuitarist Joe Carter, Director of the Sacred Heart University Academic Music Programs, has studied Baden’s style and music extensively, met Baden in Rio in the 1990s and upon his death, was asked to contribute to an article in Americas magazine, entitled, Bidding Baden Good-bye by Mark Holston. Joe Carter also taught and was the Chair of the Guitar Department at the Hartford Conservatory for 20 plus years.
Bassist Nilson Matta performed with Baden Powell for several years before relocating to the U.S. In the mid 1980s. Additionally, Nilson Matta has long been considered one of the greatest bass players in the world and since his arrival in New York in 1985 he has become the first-call bassist for many renowned US musicians. Born in São Paulo, Matta studied bass at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro with Sandrino Santoro, Brazil’s premier classical bass player. At an incredibly young age, Matta was already recognized as one of Brazil’s most impressive bass players, and while living in Brazil he played with such luminaries as João Gilberto, Hermeto Pascoal, Roberto Carlos, Chico Buarque de Holanda, Nana Caymmi, João Bosco, Johnny Alf, Helio Delmiro, and Luis Bonfá. Since relocating to New York, he has performed and recorded with such renowned artists as Joe Henderson, Paquito D’Rivera, Slide Hampton, Herbie Mann, Mark Murphy, Oscar Castro-Neves, Don Friedman, Paul Winter, Gato Barbieri, and many others.
Drummer Graciliano Zambonim, born in Brazil and now based in the New York City area, has been an important contributor to the rich Brazilian Jazz scene in the U.S. He has recorded over 30 albums and is one of the first called New York drummers for this music.
