Brazilian guitar genius and composer Yamandu Costa will make a special appearance at this year’s Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) that begins tomorrow.
Brought to Zimbabwe by the Brazilian Embassy in Harare, the internationally acclaimed string virtuoso will perform one night only on Thursday at 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale.
The show presents a rare, not-to-be-missed opportunity for Zimbabweans to sample Brazilian music performed live by a true master.
Brazilian music is a blend of a variety of genres. It combines strong African influences and rhythms with Portuguese instrumentation, harmony and melody. Popular genres from the country include samba, tango and flamenco.
Through his unique compositions, Costa is taking Brazilian music to the world and exposing his culture to different societies.
A master of stylish innovation and technique, Costa’s instrument of choice is the Brazilian seven-string guitar which has an additional bass string.
His music has a complex structure and through masterful improvisation he fuses the quick tempos of choro, a captivating Brazilian style, with jazz and elements from Argentina, Uruguay and the Latin American world to create astounding, multifaceted and exhilarating performances.
One of the most gifted Brazilian guitar players today, Costa’s original compositions cut across genres to weave a new Brazilian music that has a modern feel, but still strongly anchored in tradition.
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The young guitar maestro has the rare ability to create different moods for the listener, migrating from the dense, reflective and sometimes sad, spiced with sudden bursts joy and wild celebration that is characteristic of his Brazilian heritage.
He creates magic with the guitar as he switches from picking the strings and strumming, muting the sound, snapping, and even tapping the instrument to create rhythmic effects.
“Brazil is well-known for its culture and we are happy to introduce it to Zimbabwe by bringing a major artist to Hifa, one of the most important festivals in Africa.
“We hope to bring more artists in the future in order to establish stronger cultural links between Zimbabwe and Brazil,” said Fillipe Mallet, deputy head of mission at the Brazilian Embassy in Harare recently.
Costa was born in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 30 years ago. He began his guitar studies with his father Algacir Costa at age seven and he perfected his technique with Lúcio Yanel, an Argentine virtuoso who lived in Brazil at the time.
As a recording artist Costa has nine albums and has worked on a number of high-profile projects with world’s finest musicians.
He has performed solo and with orchestras across the world at concerts and festivals in countries including the UK, France, US, Australia, South Korea, Portugal and Spain.
