This Brazilian guitar workshop explores the rich rhythmic and
harmonic language and essential accompaniment patterns behind
styles like choro and samba. We’ll break down classic chord
voicings, bass line movement, and right-hand techniques that
give Brazilian guitar its distinctive flow. The class
emphasizes feel, groove, and listening skills as much as
technique, helping guitarists develop a deep sense of rhythmic
pocket. Students will play through traditional repertoire as
well as modern interpretations to understand how the style
continues to evolve. Guidance will be tailored to different
experience levels, with options for both rhythm and lead
players. By the end of the workshop, participants will have
practical tools to bring authentic Brazilian sounds into their
own playing.
Born in Piracicaba (SP), Alessandro Penezzi is
one of the great virtuosos of the Brazilian guitar. His concerts
have been seen in various countries including the USA, Russia,
Japan, Gabon, Angola, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Kosovo, Macedonia,
Belgium, the Netherlands, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Morocco,
and Portugal. Graduated in Popular Music from Unicamp with a
specialization in Creative Processes from Faculdade Souza Lima,
he has been teaching courses, workshops, and seminars at various
music festivals in Brazil and abroad. A multi-instrumentalist
— he plays 7-string guitar, tenor guitar, cavaquinho,
mandolin and flute — and is a prolific composer. He has
received honors and nominations for his performances as an
instrumentalist and composer, and has been highlighted in the
Visa MPB Instrumental (2001), Tim de Música Brasileira (2006),
Shell de Teatro and Prêmio da Música Brasileira (2006) awards.
featuring Mestre Cabelo and Jorge
Alabê
with the UC Davis Brazilian Capoeira Ensemble
directed by Juan Diego Díaz, with guests
Mestre Cabello is an experienced master of
Capoeira Angola and disciple of the great Mestre João Grande,
ethnomusicologist Emilia Biancardi and master drummer Jorge
Alabé. Originally from Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, Mestre
Cabello has dedicated the last 20 of his 40 years in the art to
cultivating Capoeira Angola in Serra Grande, Brazil and around
the world. He casts an attentive and respectful look at the codes
and the rich repository of musicality, tuning, ritual and
movement left by the old masters from the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s
via audio recordings, texts, photos and drawings. Seen through
these lenses, the study of Afro-Brazilian culture is of vital
importance to the recognition, understanding and appreciation of
a complete capoeirista. Mestre Cabello approaches Capoeira Angola
as a sustainable and nourishing practice for our whole selves:
body, mind and spirit.
