Banda Mantiqueira 's biography |  Brazil

Biography

Banda Mantiqueira was founded by saxophonist, clarinetist and arranger Nailor Proveta in 1992, to play Brazilian music arranged for a big band. The project has required the collaboration of a wide variety of musicians from Sao Pablo, with whom Nailor Proveta has both a close friendship and a fruitful musical relationship.

The band’s first release was Aldeia, recorded in 1995. This debut album earned Mantiqueira a Grammy nomination in the Best Latin Jazz Performance category in 1998. They have also released two other albums, Bixiga and Terra Amantiquira.

Additionally, Banda Mantiqueira recorded three CDs and one DVD, São Paulo Samba, with the Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra. The two ensembles toured together in the United States, performing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa (California), the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco and the Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Banda Mantiqueira performed at major events in Europe: in Lisbon and Cidade do Porto, Portugal, during Expo 98; in Bremen, Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven, Germany; and at the Dutch Concertgebouw, together with the Jazz Orchestra of Concertgebouw. They have also given concerts in most Brazilian capitals and participated in various music festivals celebrated in Brazil.

Banda Mantiqueira’s musicians have a busy schedule that includes studio recording, music classes and workshops, and playing in the supporting bands of Roberto Carlos, Djavan, Milton Nascimento, Gal Costa, Rita Lee, Guinga, Yamandu Costa, among other prominent Brazilian artists. The members that make up Banda Mantiqueira are: Nailor “Proveta” Azevedo (alto sax and clarinet, musical direction and arrangements), Ubaldo Versolato (baritone sax, flute and piccolo), Josué dos Santos (tenor sax and flute), Cássio de Almeida (tenor sax and flute), François de Lima (trombone), Valdir Ferreira (trombone), Nahor Gomes (trumpet and flugelhorn), Walmir Gil (trumpet and flugelhorn), Odésio Jericó (trumpet and flugelhorn), Jarbas Barbosa (electric guitar), Marinho Andreotti (electric double bass), Cléber Almeida (drums), Fred Prince (percussion) and Zezinho Pitoco (percussion).