They created the Brazilian Big Band to bring together international audiences to an artistic, appealing and modern conception of the Brazilian Popular Music.
Its participants are some most respectable brass and reed
players of California and Brazilian musicians in the rhythm section. Its leader, pianist, composer and arrangerGuilherme Vergueiro, comes from a 28-year career, dedicated toward the music expressions of his country - samba and chôro in particular - and he is currently living in Los Angeles. The repertoire includes Brazilian classic standards and most of all original compositions by its leader. The results prove the creativity of this artist and his complicity with the Brazilian soul.
Here are some comments written by journalists from Los
Angeles:
"Guilherme Vergueiro is a pianist who takes evident delight in bringing together the worlds of jazz and Latin music, infusing unusual spirit into his arrangements" ". . . This orchestra offers a welcome element of harmonic sophistication." ". . . The results maintained a level that clearly reflected the leader's eclectic talent." Leonard Feather - Los Angeles Times.
" Sitting on the bandstand, under the direction of a supreme talented leader, was some of LA's creme de la creme of both the jazz world and the Brazilian scene." ". . . Vergueiro was undoubtedly the star of this extravaganza.
While maintaining a band of this size is difficult, this one has the potential
to be very popular and find itself in demand in a variety of settings"
Frankie Nemko - Music Connection.
"For samba lovers, Brazilian pianist composer Guilherme Vergueiro is the man to watch. He plays the samba not as more folklorical music, and much more than easy lounging beach sounds. Vergueiro's a modern master of the form, always pushing for new discoveries. There is nothing quite like it. Not just another Big Band." John Payne - L.A. Weekly
