Calliope is delighted to host the return performance of Alessandro Penezzi, considered one of the great Brazilian guitarists of his generation, as he joins his colleagues in the exemplary local Brazilian choro performing ensemble Berkeley Choro for a rousing celebration of beautiful music!
With Alessandro Penezzi, guitar; Jane Lenoir, flute; Harvey Wainapel, clarinet; Ricardo Peixoto, guitar and Brian Rice, pandeiro.
Choro, the first uniquely Brazilian popular music and the root of samba and bossa nova, has its origins in the late 1800s. The genre, a captivating blend of European salon and chamber music with Afro-Brazilian rhythmic energy and a touch of jazz, is still being renewed and updated.
Composer, arranger and guitarist Alessandro Penezzi is considered one of the great Brazilian guitarists of his generation. A multi-instrumentalist, Alessandro plays 7-string guitar, tenor guitar, cavaquinho, mandolin and flute.
The Berkeley Choro Ensemble, formed in 2010, has dedicated itself to the performance of modern choro compositions and collaborations with renowned Brazilian performers and composers. The new CD is a reflection of what is happening today in the world of choro. The Ensemble has been actively promoting the advancement of this great genre via performances, workshops, and the annual Berkeley Festival of Choro.