Paulinho Garcia

Born in Belo Horizonte (capital of Minas Gerais, Brazil) Paulinho began his musical career at the age of nine as a singer in a Sunday children's program in his city's principal radio station, Radio Inconfidencia. In his teens, he performed as a house musician in all musical programs of the Radio network, Guarany--TV Itacolomy. He led his own band, Os Agitadores, and with them recorded his first two albums. Until his arrival in the U.S. in 1979, Paulinho composed, arranged, produced, and performed jingles for HP Studios. Four of his commercials received national awards. Having moved to Chicago, he performed and recorded two albums with the band Made in Brazil. In 1991 he founded his own band, Jazzmineiro, whose eponymous 1996 CD received excellent reviews in the Chicago Tribune, Jazziz magazine, the Brazilian Music Review, and The Brazilians. Paulinho was the recipient of the “Best jazz entertainer” award for the year 2001 by the Chicago Music Awards. His new recording “Homage”, released in Tokyo on September 2002, was chosen as the best vocal CD in Japan for 2002 and was among the best 20 overall. Paulinho has performed in many cities throughout the U.S. and abroad, touring Japan for six months with Made in Brazil. In 2000 and 2001 he toured Poland, Prague and Bratislava with singer Grazyna Auguscik. Paulinho also performed with saxophonist Greg Fishman (his partner in Two for Brazil). In 2001 they performed at the North Sea jazz festival in the Netherlands, the Singapore jazz festival and at the Holland American jazz cruise. In 2002 they performed in Hong Kong and Bangkok and most recently at the Fujitsu Concord jazz festival throughout various cities in Japan. It was then that Paulinho added Polish singer Grazyna Auguscik and named his new trio Three for Brazil. In 2003 Two for Brazil played Joe Siegel's jazz cruise “jazz party at sea” (October 26 thru November 2). His line up for 2004 included a tour of Poland in March, Bahamas in May, as well as performing at one of Japan's largest jazz festivals, Jazz Elite, with Three for Brazil (June 8th thru 21st), a second “jazz party at sea” cruise (October 23 thru 30th) and two TV concerts in the Netherlands in November. In 2005, In addition to many festivals throughout the USA, Paulinho performed in various cities in Poland, The Ukraine and Prague in April, The Singapore jazz festival in July, Joe Siegel’s jazz cruise to Alaska in September, the Jazz cruise of the Bahamas in October, and the Bangkok jazz festival in early February 2006. Paulinho released two CDs in 2006: a new solo CD (Tempo Feliz) and a CD of well known movie songs (Two for Brazil goes to the movies) in an inviting Brazilian style with his duo Two for Brazil, and 4 more CDs after that. His all original songs CD “My very life” is receiving world wide praises from critics and audience, was nominated among the 25 best for the best latin jazz CD by the Grammy and is nominated for the Brazilian International Press Award.

Paulinho Garcia's U.S. discography:

* Jazzmineiro, (1996), featuring the 7-piece band Jazzmineiro.

* Solo, (1998), a solo voice & guitar album.

* Two for Brazil, (February 2000), a highly acclaimed duo with saxophonist Greg Fishman.

* Fragile, (April 2000), a duo performance with singer Grazyna Auguscik.

* Dois no Choro's Carinhoso, (November 2000), a modern interpretation of traditional choro music from Brazil in duo performance with flutist Julie Koidin.

* Two for Noel, (December 2000), A Christmas CD in Brazilian Style with the duo Two For Brazil.

* Juntos, (July 2001) the new Dois No Choro's CD with the participation of world renown Brazilian Flutist Altamiro Carrilho and Brazilian pianist Maria Teresa Madeira among others.

* Two for Brazil Plays The Standards, (2001), standard American and Brazilian songs in Paulinho Garcia's own Brazilian style.

* Three for Brazil's “Homage” CD, (Sept. 2002), Available in Japan. The new trio release.

* Take Five, (Jan 2003), Two for Brazil CD.

* Two for Brazil goes to the movies, (Dec 2006) a collection of movie Themes in Paulinho Garcia's Brazilian style including vocals of Chicago Jazz icon, Judy Roberts.

* Tempo Feliz, (Dec 2006) Paulinho Garcia's newest solo CD.

Critics quotes

“Garcia's vocals are never less than seductive, his guitar playing ever atmospheric and evocative. Garcia...........ought to be considered a local treasure.” Howard Reich, Jazz critic. “Chicago Tribune”

“This Garcia among Garcia's is a man of his words, and worlds, and no matter where he takes you, and no matter where you ask him to take you, you travel the byways of heart and soul. Brazil, where we have never been, rejoices. Chicago, where he now has never not been, the same. Listen, listener, and hear the freedom of horizons stretching. Lloyd Sachs, Jazz critic. “Chicago Sun-Times”

“Garcia floats on a cloud of soft tones, gently plucked notes, and stimulating Brazilian rhythms. His tune selection is not the standard fare in this post- Jobim period, yet the music is refreshing in its diversity while still maintaining the intimate spirit of Brazil and its music. The lyrics are primarily in Portuguese with occasional English, Italian and Spanish. He sings of love and plays with the emotions to support the lyrics.” Frank Rubolino, critic. “Cadence Magazine”

“...He becomes the epitome of the solitary troubadour-a romantic figure hardly visible anymore even in Brazil, where, like everywhere else, popular music has grown busier, louder, and rougher. Garcia's voice, an airy baritone, has less shadow and a bit more energy than Joao Gilberto's, and his languid chords and cleanly plucked lines illuminate the complicated rhythms with the cool clarity of moonlight. Neil Tesser, Jazz critic “The Chicago Readers”

Paulinho Garcia's sensuous voice is heard to wonderful advantage on nineteen songs that cover the spectrum from standards sambas to Peruvian Chabuca Granda's immortal “La flor de la canela”. Garcia sings in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Italian and his spare guitar work draws attention to the lyric beauty of these songs. Every song is rewarding. Marcela Brenton, JazzTimes Magazine

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