Biography

Izaías Bueno de Almeida, leader of the “Izaías e seus Chorões” ensemble (Izaías and His Chorões) - the oldest instrumental ensemble in São Paulo – stood out as a mandolin soloist since his childhood. As early as 16 he started playing at former Tupi TV channel 3 on a show entirely dedicated to young viewers, and at 18 he was hired to work as a music copyist with the same TV channel.

At the same time he would play with the Mauro Silva Ensemble or other groups to accompany amateur singers. He was the leader of the instrumentalists playing on a show promoted by the Bandeirantes TV channel, and also played with the Caçulinha Group at the Record TV channel. As a mandolin player, his first notorious solo was at the same Record TV channel in 1956, in the so called “Night of the Choro Players”, with the choro “Saudações” (Greetings), composed by Otávio Dias Moreno. Another important moment of his solo career was in 1986 at the São Paulo Art Museum - MASP, interpreting the “Suite Retratos” (Suite Photographs), composed by Radamés Gnattali, with the then called Orquestra Jovem (Young Orchestra) (currently Orquestra Experimental de Repertório - Experimental Repertoire Orchestra), conducted by Maestro Jamil Maluf. Still with the Mauro Silva Ensemble, he took part in the opening night of the former Excelsior TV Channel, and played on an exclusive basis on the show called Programa Brasil 60 (Brazil 60’s) until 1963, accompanying all contracted singers, such as Nelson Gonçalves, Silvio Caldas, Orlando Silva, Dalva de Oliveira, Ataulfo Alves, and Aracy de Almeida, among others. He played for this TV channel until it was closed down, in 1969.

This involvement with the television led him to play on shows that made history, such as “O Fino da Bossa” (The Best of Swing) and “Bossaudade,” (Swinging Longing) (at the Record TV channel) when he had the chance to play with the famous singers Elis Regina and Elizete Cardoso. At the same time he started playing as a soloist with the famous Atlântico Ensemble, for which he also made the arrangements. This performance was released on records and registered in the series published by Editora Abril as “História da Música Popular Brasileira” (History of the Brazilian Popular Music).

The Enciclopédia da Música Brasileira, Erudita e Folclórica (Encyclopedia of Brazilian Music - Classical and Folklore) has a specific entry about the ensemble and its instrumentalists. Izaías and His Chorões replaced the Atlântico Ensemble, and along more than thirty years both groups added to the brilliance of many shows aired by the Cultura TV channel, such as the “Choro das Sextas-Feiras,” (Friday’s Choro), “As Muitas Histórias da MPB,” (The many stories of the Brazilian Popular Music)  “Ensaio,” (Rehearsal), “A Alegria do Choro,” (The Joy of Choro) and “Os Sons da Memória” (The Sounds of Memory).

They also played in several live shows accompanying some renowned pianists like Eudóxia de Barros, Arthur Moreira Lima, Laércio de Freitas, and Marco Antonio Bernardo, as well as singers Nelson Gonçalves, Inezita Barroso, João Dias, Ângela Maria, Chico Buarque de Holanda and many others. Among these shows the excellent performance of the group at the São Paulo Municipal Theater, celebrating the thirty years of Waldyr Azevedo’s career, should be emphasized. In December 1998, the ensemble represented Brazil in the city of Mendoza, Argentina, playing in a gathering of musicians from all Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) countries.

Izaías Bueno de Almeida composed several songs, such as the choros “Tão Só,” (So Lonely) “Prantos,” (Weeping) “Correndo da Chuva,” (Running from the Rain) “Dona Nega,” etc. The most recent appearances in records were in the CDs “Toninho Carrasqueira toca Patápio & Pixinguinha,” (Toninho Carrasqueira plays Patápio and Pixinguinha) and “Carinhoso,” (Affectionate) both in 1996. The Ensemble recorded three LPs: “O Fino do Bandolim,” (The Best of Mandolin) “O Regional Brasileiro na Música dos Beatles,” (The Brazilian Ensemble playing the Beatles Music) and “Pé na Cadeira,” (A foot on the Chair) – this last one was re-released as a CD by the Kuarup label.

Recently, along with the “Conjunto Izaías e Seus Chorões,” Izaías has played in shows like: “Ensaio,” (Rehearsal) “Metrópolis,” Canal Rural (Rural Channel),” “Viola, Minha Viola,” (Guitar, my Guitar) “Rumos Culturais (Itaú Cultural),” (Cultural Routes) “Fundação CESP,” several projects developed by the Commercial Workers’ Social Service - SESC both in the capital and in the countryside, as well as by the Municipal League of São Paulo Secondary Students – UMES, and shows promoted in the cities of Tatuí, Indaiatuba, Campos de Jordão (32nd Winter Festival), Diadema, Taubaté, São Pedro, Rio de Janeiro (Banco do Brasil Cultural Center), Santo André, Piracicaba, Botucatu, Campinas, the Boa Nova Radio Station in Guarulhos, and the Trianon Radio Station in São Paulo.

In 1999 he recorded the CD “Quem Não Chora Não Ama,” (He who does not cry does not love) with the “Conjunto Izaías Entre Amigos,” (Ensemble Izaías Among Friends) which received the award “Movement of the Brazilian Popular Music” as the best instrumental record of the year.

With his ensemble and the São Paulo Chamber Orchestra he soloed the Suite Retratos at the São Pedro Theater and the Sesc Ipiranga facilities, where they got a standing ovation and received an extensive exposure both on TV and in the press.

In 2003 Izaías played in Spain with the Ensemble called Chora Madeira (Crying Woodwinds) at the Navarra Festivals.

In 2004 he participated in the recording of the Paulo Vanzolini collection (4 CDs), which received an award as the best work of the Brazilian Popular Music.

In November 2004 he soloed the same Suite Retratos at the São Paulo Municipal Theater with his ensemble and the Municipal Symphonic Orchestra, a huge success.

In 2005 he released three CDs telling the history of Choro, recorded by the CPC-UMES label.

In addition to playing with his Chorões, he also participates in the Conjunto Moderna Tradição (Modern Tradition Ensemble), which released a CD highly praised by reviewers and lovers of good Brazilian music. In 2006 he was invited by the Jacob do Bandolim Institute to play in the show promoted in Rio de Janeiro, at the Carlos Gomes Theater, to release the album Tocando com Jacob (Playing with Jacob), along with great Brazilian mandolin players.

In August 2007 he played in Germany, first in Hanover and then in Cologne, in several shows promoted on radio stations, television channels and theaters.