Choro Ensemble



click for website

BRAZILIAN MUSIC
Music that Stirs your Body and Soul
Choro, Samba and Bossa Nova

BIOGRAPHY
Created by Brazilian musician and composer Pedro Ramos, Choro Ensemble is a group based in New York City formed of highly talented professional musicians devoted to the tradition of Choro Music, Brazil's "Traditional Jazz". It presents different approaches to choro, swinging from a delicate and classical style to vibrant and syncopated tunes like samba.


In 2003, the group was voted as one of the best Weekly Jazz Gig in New York City by K. Leander Williams, TONY, Time Out Magazine.

In May 2002, Choro Ensemble had the honor to play with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra as part of the project to reconnect Brazilian Music and Jazz.



The Village Voice, in a review of Choro Ensemble, exclaimed that "like all Brazilian music, choro is infectious... It is "Some of the best Brazilian sound in town… The music is authentic stuff, played in a style you would have heard in Rio Cafes in the 20s and 30s."

The band core-members are composer Pedro Ramos, band-leader on cavaquinho (ukulele-like instrument) from São Paulo, Anat Cohen on clarinet/sax, from Israel, Zé Maurício on percussion.

   

The group members also play in a 10-piece big band style combo named GAFIEIRA ARMADA, with trombone, clarinet, tenor sax, acoustic base, cavaquinho, acoustic guitar, percussion, and vocals. Originating in the early 20th century, Gafieira is a ballroom dance from Rio de Janeiro. In 1930, Gafieira was influenced by American big bands, becoming also style of playing choro and samba.

Choro Ensemble showcases Brazil’s musical diversity with pieces from great Brazilian composers like Ernesto Nazareth, Pixinguinha, Jacob do Bandolim, Zequinha de Abreu, Chiquinha Gonzaga, Tom Jobim and others. They will also play their own arrangements and compositions.

   

CHORO ENSEMBLE FOUNDERS

Pedro Ramos (Cavaquinho and band leader) is from São Paulo, Brazil, and has a degree in Music Composition from City University of New York. A composer and arranger, he has been deeply involved in the New York City’s Brazilian music scene through all kinds of recordings and projects. He is the group’s leader and founder and has close links with the choro scene in Brazil.

Anat Cohen (Clarinet and saxophone) is originally from Tel Aviv, Israel and has a BA in Professional Music from Berklee School of Music. She is a composer, arranger and one of the top musicians of jazz and Brazilian music. She also well regarded in the Israeli music scene, in both classical and popular music.

Zé Maurício (Percussion) is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is a member of Ciro Baptista show “Beat the Donkey” performing in the US and Europe. He has been researching and playing drums of African and Middle Eastern origins and is one of the most highly sought after percussionists for Brazilian and African music.