New York Choro Duo

Cesar Garabini
7-Strings Guitar, from Belo Horizonte

Marco Ruviaro
Mandolin, from São Paulo

Two Brazilian musicians playing freely as at home. Inspiration, creativity and respect of the Choro tradition – this is the NY Choro Duo, formed by Marco Ruviaro & Cesar Garabini. The duo has one CD recorded in 2013 in Brooklyn, New York. It’s a special work called New York Choro Duo – Numa Seresta. This album will be available online soon.

New York Choro Duo CD – Numa Seresta

To begin with, “choro” is a way of playing, as well as a musical genre. It was around the 1870 that the Brazilian popular music players of Rio de Janeiro, once the economical and cultural capital of Brazil, played in a “Brazilian style” (under the strong influence of the African rhythms lundu and maxixe) the repertoire of European dances in vogue in the salons of the XIX century carioca élite (as walzer, scottish and polca).

The New York Choro Duo playing Amoroso, a Samba of Aníbal Augusto Sardinha, alias Garoto (Recorded at the Prospect Park, Brooklyn)

At the beginning the term “choro” was intended to describe the “chorões” distinctive way of playing, that is musical ensemble of guitars, flutes, cavaquinhos, sometimes percussion instruments and others solo instruments.

The “Choro” as musical genre appeared later, at the beginning of the XX century, as “music constituted by rhythmical patterns of polca and scottish, mixed with afro-brazilian syncopated rhythms”, as defined by Luiz Otávio Braga, Professor at the University of Rio de Janeiro, one of the most important Choro representative of our times.

The New York Choro Duo playing Noites Cariocas, a Samba-Choro of Jacob do Bandolim (Recorded at the Central Park, Manhattan)

Unlike the traditional popular music, mostly singed, the choro music distinguished itself from the beginning as an instrumental music, rich, sophisticated and characterized by a deep interpretative liberty, that offered both the soloists and the accompanist the chance to create and express themselves freely.

Choro outside Brazil

Choro had its origins in Rio de Janeiro but it rapidly spread itself all around the country and today it has most assuredly gained a position of prominence as Brazilian instrumental music. Outside Brazil many groups of “chorões” contribute to the diffusion of choro all around the world.

The New York Choro Duo, constituted by two Brazilian musicians — the mandolin player Marco Ruviaro and the guitar player Cesar Garabini —, plays its part, contributing to the diffusion of Choro.

The Day of Choro, the Pixinguinha Day

In recent times the 23rd of april has officially been recognised as the “ Day of Choro” in Brazil, a commemorative date in which special events and “Rodas de Choro” are organised all around the country. This day chosen because is one of the probable day of Alfredo da Rocha Vianna Filho’s birthday, also called Pixinguinha (1897-1973), flautist, saxophonist, arranger, composer and the most representative of choro music of any time.