José Melo Music Productions & Management is a booking agency based in Amsterdam, working since 1998 at artistic and cultural music development all over the world.
We look for a good relationship with theatres and festivals worldwide. Our acts can be found spread from clubs, to great halls and festivals.
We also work as advisors on current trends in music from Portugal and the Portuguese diaspora.
Use our bookingoffice to book one of our artists. On our site you can find all artist information like biography, discography and photography. You can listen to the music of our artists and also buy online.
Benjamim Taubkin (piano)
Brazilian music has been the playing field for this instrumentalist, arranger, composer, and producer. As a musician he has participated in several formations - that range from soloing to symphonic orchestras - presenting in Brazil and abroad. Some of the most recent projects he’s participated in as musician and arranger include: Jobim Sinfônico, Samwad - Rua do Encontro, Milágrimas, Orquestra Jazz Sinfônica, Paulo Moura and Monica Salmaso. His current projects include: the Orquestra Popular de Câmara, the choro ensemble Moderna Tradição, and his work with the traditional music group Abaçai. He directs the label Núcleo Contemporâneo, focused on recording Brazilian instrumental music. He is present as a musician or producer on more than 130 discs. He has coordinated projects for institutions like Itaú Cultural, and the São Paulo State Secretary of Culture. He has developed programs for SESC, CPFL, and CCBB. He is the musical curator for the Mercado Cultural da Bahia and is a member of the European Forum for World Music.
Isaías Bueno de Almeida (bandolim)
Izaías is the leader of the oldest instrumental group in São Paulo, Izaías e Seus Chorões, which still has its original composition. Since he was a child he distinguishes from playing bandolim solo, and at the age of 16 he was already performing in television programs. He has played for many years in regional groups. In some of them, he has been the leader, in others, a bandolim solo player or even the one who transcribed pieces of music.
Some of the programs in which he performed are part of Brazilian history, like: Fino da Bossa (The most Refined of the Bossa) and Bossaudade (Missing the Bossa). He participated as solo player and arranger in the famous Conjunto Atlântico (Atlantic Group). He has also played in some TV programs, like Ensaio (Rehearsal), Choro das Sextas-Feiras (Fridays´ Choro) and As Muitas Histórias da MPB (The Many Stories of Brazilian Popular Music). Isaías de Almeida is also a composer and the author of many choro songs. He was awarded the “Prêmio Movimento da MPB” (Movement of the Brazilian Popular Music Prize) for his album Quem não chora, não ama (Those who don’t cry, don’t love).
Israel 7 Cordas (7 chords guitar)
Instrumentalist, arranger and composer. He also integrates the group “Isaías e Seus Chorões”. With a lot of professional experience, he matches the knowledge in both popular and classical music, acquired in the Conservatório Dramático e Musical de São Paulo (Dramatic and Musical Conservatory of São Paulo), where he graduated in classical guitar. After having played guitar and cavaquinho, he dedicated to the 7 chords guitar, at first within the Conjunto Atlântico (Atlantic Group), during the best time of the choro music, in the 80´s, together with his brother Isaías.
Naylor “Proveta” Azevedo (saxophone)
Leader of Banda Mantiqueira (Mantiqueira Band), Proveta is considered one of the best sopro instrumentalists in Brasil. Saxophonist and clarinetist, he has a great curricula as instrumentalist and arranger. He is often invited to take part in musical workshops, courses and seminars throughout the country. He comes from Leme, in the countryside of São Paulo state, and he graduated in saxophone in 1992. He has already played with some of the most important artists, both Brazilian and international, among singers and instrumentalists.
Guello (percussion)
He is one of the most relevant percussionists in contemporary Brazilian music. Within Duo Elo, where he plays together with Carlos Stasi, he has been performing and giving workshops all over the world. He has also played with various artists, such as Zizi Possi, with whom he recorded his four last CDs, besides Chico César and Joyce. At present time, he integrates the group Bonsai, which has launched its last CD, Desdobraduras, under the label Núcleo Contemporâneo.
MELOMUSIC Concertagenda
Display Concertagenda Moderna Tradição /
Moderna Tradição: Biography
Bio
Moderna Tradição - an encounter of master musicians performing the choro - instrumental music created in Brazil at the end of the XIX century and still very much alive and growing today.
Performed by a quintet having the slightly unusual instrumentation of mandolin, soprano-sax, guitar, piano and percussion. The performances are full of life and display impeccable musicianship, colorful arrangements, and many beautiful themes. Some of the songs are more familiar than others and all of the treatments are colorful, filled with subtle surprises.
The five musicians - Isaias De Almeida on mandolin, Naylor Proveta on soprano (doubling on clarinet), acoustic guitarist Israel de Almeida, pianist Benjamin Taubkin, and percussionist Guello (with baritonist Teco Cardosa guesting on “Coxixando”) - are widely respected in Brazil.
Filled with musical beauty, melodic improvising, very attractive tone colors, and a memorable ensemble sound, New Old Music is a delight. The CD was released in Brasil by Núcleo Contemporâneo and in United States by Adventure Music. In 2008 it will be release in Europe by Connecting Cultures.
Choro met nieuwe arrangementen
Moderna Tradição is een Braziliaanse formatie die is ontstaan uit de wereld van de Choro-muziek. De groep bestaat uit pianist Benjamim Taubkin, mandolinespeler Izaías Bueno de Almeida, gitarist Israel 7 Cordas, saxofonist en klarinettist Nailor Proveta en percussionist Guello die samen zijn gekomen om ieders persoonlijke visies op dit muziekgenre uit te werken en elkaar daarin aan te vullen. De Choro bestaat al sinds het begin van de 20e eeuw en geldt als een van de belangrijkste muziekgenres in de Braziliaanse muziek. Moderna Tradição laat zien dat het nog steeds actueel en modern is. De vijf solisten brengen bekende en meer dan 50 jaar oude thema’s van de Choro met nieuwe arrangementen en een hedendaags muzikaal jasje.
Volgens Benjamim is Moderna Tradição “de ontmoeting tussen twee werelden: die van Izaías en Israel Bueno, die de Choro altijd heel goed hebben vertolkt, en die van mijn generatie - en ook van Guello en Proveta – die diverse Braziliaanse muziekstromingen heeft doorlopen. Die ervaring willen we meenemen binnen dit project, maar op een subtiele manier, omdat we muziek willen maken met eerbied voor de rijke geschiedenis en pracht van dit genre”.
Op het repertoire staan nummers van de hand van Pixinguinha ("Coxixando", "Lamentos" en "Proezas de Solon"), Jacob do Bandolim ("Vibrações" en "Pérolas"), Ernesto Nazareth ("Gotas de Ouro"), Garoto ("Lamentos do Morro") en Kchimbinho ("Sonoroso").
In 2006 bracht Moderna Tradição het programma “Ode aan Orfeus – 50 jaar ontmoeting tussen Jobim, Vinícius en Niemeyer” in São Paulo, tezamen met het stedelijk strijkkwartet Quarteto de Cordas da Cidade de São Paulo en met Ná Ozzetti, Mariana de Moraes, Renato Braz en José Miguel Wisnik, tijdens een concert in het Auditório Ibirapuera. In 2007 werden nog eens zes optredens voor uitverkochte zalen gegeven en in datzelfde jaar maakte de groep zijn opwachting in Duitsland op het Masala Festival in Hannover en op het Festival van traditionele muziek in Rudolstadt. Van dat laatste festival werd een CD uitgegeven met de beste optredens van dat jaar, waaronder ook een nummer van Moderna Tradição. De groep werd in diezelfde periode uitgenodigd voor een special van een uur lang voor de belangrijkste radiozender in Duitsland, de WRD.
Voor 2008 staan optredens gepland in Oostenrijk en Griekenland.
De gelijknamige CD is in 2008 uitgebracht door de Núcleo Contemporâneo. In Europa zal de CD verschijnen onder het Connecting Cultures label.
Five musicians performing original classical Brazilian Choro: Benjamim Taubkin, Izaías Bueno de Almeida, Israel 7 Cordas, Proveta and Guello.
Moderna Tradição: Press
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Press
São Paulo pianist Benjamin Taubkin began carving out a career in the late 1970s, but his first solo outing came only in 1997. The following year he founded the folkinspired Orquesta Popular de Câmara, whose delightful debut appeared in 2004.
Founded by Taubkin, the paradoxically named Modern Traditions Ensemble comprises the talents of choro veterans Isaías Bueno de Almeida (mandolinist, composer and leader of São Paulo's celebrated Isaías e Seus Chorôes), his brother Israel "7 Cordas" Bueno de Almeida (seven-string guitar), and Naylor "Proveta" Azevedo (soprano sax), together with in-demand percussionist Guello. The repertoire is classic choro, performed with the characteristic reserve of this wistful yet vivacious genre: Pixinguinha's "Proezas de solon", "Coxixando", "Lamentos" and "Cheguei"; Jacobo do Bandolim's "Vibrações" and "Pérolas"; Kchimbinho's "Sonoroso", Ernesto Nazareth's "Gotas do ouro" and Garoto's "Lamentos do morro".
Taubkin brings a straight-ahead contemporary jazz feel to the project, but the elegant refinement that the elder musicians invest in the music is always and rightly out front. Every number recalls the old saying among choro musicians that each new piece you learn is the most poignant title ever written. Prove the aficionados wrong if you can, but this dazzling array of timeless choros will have you at the task for a long time to come. by: Michael Stone, New Old Music / Adventure Music (adventure-music.com)
This recording is a beautiful gift from Brazilian musicians. “Proezas de solon”, “Vibraçoes”, “Sonoroso”, “Pérolas”, “Lamentos Do Morro”, “Goats Do Ouro”, “Coixando”, “Lamentos” and “Cheguei” are played with pure soul. Root rhythms are reflected in each song with everyone of these musicians being a top level and serious instrumentalist. The Brazilian mandolin is the choro instrument of choice used today with it's voice being bright and beautiful. The sound of this old instrument gives just the right dimension to this CD. Iasias Bueno de Almeida bounces around in between each choro style, bringing the mandolin to center stage. Israel 7 Cordas' guitar playing is totally virtuous. The knowledge of his own music and his attachment to it is constantly expressed throughout the whole release. Naylor “Proveta” Azevedo is considered a great instrumentalist. His tempo is perfect and his solos are discreet but powerful. Guello holds the orchestra together with the beat of his percussion.
This Modern Traditions Ensemble CD is easily listened to with the sweet Brazilian rhythms incorporated into jazz. Listeners who enjoy the bossa nova will be content with this release. This group explores Brazilian music with a perfect classical and jazzy cocktail. by: Ana Isabel Ordonez, Jazz Review.com
