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"... In his last CD Roots, Paulo Martelli presents all works with an incredible sense of phrase, beautiful sound and impeccable technique. He is a natural born guitarist..." - GENDAI Magazine, Japan
Let us face it, Paulo Martelli pretty much owns Brazil, musically speaking. His music embraces the school of Andres Segovia more than that of Heitor Villa Lobos. His classical and somewhat neo-classical album Roots is lively, vivid and fluid. Martelli studied under musical luminaries such as Brasilino, Pinto and Abreu, which gave him an exceptional foundation of the genre. He is honored with a professorship from Ribeirao Preto University in Sao Paulo. In 1993, he came to American and made his debut at Carnegie Hall. He attended Julliard and he continues to win award after award for his outstanding virtuosity on the worldwide stage. His new album is a tribute and a chronicle of the many lesser-known musicians that make the Southern Continent great.
I have to admit that his first cut Loro was a bit frenetic for me. However, you cannot discount the sheer amount of exuberance that Martelli injects into the piece. The tune is from Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti who is popular for his 10-string guitar renditions.
The Bach inspired pieces by Paraguayan composer/poet Augustin Barrios are quite enchanting. Like many artists, Barrios rose to fame posthumously. Nevertheless, his legacy for the fantastic lives on in this trilogy. Martelli plays the three parts of La Catedral delicately as if their fragility is still an issue more than fifty years after their origin.
Martelli chooses three works by the distinguished Brazilian composer Paulo Bellinati. Famous for such works as Jongo and his remarkable four-guitar rendition of Baiao de Gude, Bellinati continues to be an influential force of classical music. The work offered is Estudos Litoraneos in three parts based on the study of nature by the sea. The trilogy is sedate and contemplative. One can almost hear the cry of sea birds and the lapping of the waves at ocean’s shore. This was my favorite trio on Roots.
Argentinean Astor Pantaleon Piazzolia was famous for not only his neuvo tango, but also his jazz and classical style. He is noted for his rendition on the unique instrument the bandoneon, a bassy type of concertina. Once again, Martelli offers an additional trilogy of pieces called Tres Tangos. This is an extraordinary rendition by the artist that just lulls you into a land of sunny dreams and flirtatious romance. The quiet beauty and grace of this combination tells me there is more than just one kind of tango.
Paulo Martelli's music is exquisite. On this recording, he sets the very high standard for all others that wish to cross the gaping classical border and enter into the New World o contemporary and neo-classical genres. I highly recommend this album.
Rating: Very Good + Very Good +
- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 6/9/2007 - New Age Reporter
Discography
Roots, LP (2007, Chaos Theory Music)
Chart Activity- #72 on the New Age Reporter Chart
"...He definitely has some chops on the guitar. I definitely like his sound!"
-KAOS 89.3 FM, Seattle, WA
"It's a very superb release"
-Ron Burd, CIUT 89.5 FM, Toronto, ON
Photos
Bio
Praised for his lyrical voice and ebullient virtuosity, Paulo Martelli is recognized as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists in Brazil today. A gifted performer, he has appeared frequently in concerts, master classes and on television, displaying both remarkable facility and astute interpretation. He is also a dedicated scholar and pedagogue, and through his efforts has become one of the leading proponents of the classical guitar in Brazil.
A native of Brazil, Mr. Martelli began studying guitar at the age of 10 under the guidance of Francisco Brasilino and Henrique Pinto. Later studies with friend and mentor Sergio Abreu instilled in him great respect for the tradition and repertoire of the guitar, to which he tirelessly dedicated himself. As a youth Mr. Martelli received many prizes and honors, including awards in the prestigious Young Artist Competition, the Villa-Lobos Competition, and the First Mozarteum University Scholarship Competition. After graduating with honors from the University in 1989, he immediately assumed a professorship at the Ribeirão Preto University in São Paulo where he taught for several years.
In 1993, Mr. Martelli left his professorship to pursue his studies of the guitar abroad at the Juilliard School in New York City. He made his New York debut at Carnegie's Weill Hall in 1995, and in the same year released his self-titled first album, for which he received critical acclaim throughout Europe, the Americas and Japan. A recipient of the Jeremy Green Scholarship, Mr. Martelli completed his Master's Degree at the Juilliard School in 1997. Upon his graduation from Juilliard, Mr. Martelli returned to Brazil where he has since toured extensively as a solo artist and with Brazil's greatest orchestras. In addition to his achievements as a musician, Mr. Martelli has distinguished himself as a teacher and scholar. Throughout the U.S. and Brazil he has sought to educate a new generation of guitarists through master classes and private instruction. In 1999 in recognition of his deep commitment to music education, the Brazilian Ministry of Culture awarded him the "Virtuoso" scholarship with which he has begun studies in notational tablature systems at the Manhattan School of Music. In 2000 he was also awarded the Andrés Segovia Award by the Manhattan School. Recently, Mr. Martelli has been devoting himself to playing baroque repertoire on the 11-string guitar, of which only a handful of people in the world are known to play at a virtuosic level.
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