Paulo Moura, who plays saxophones and clarinet, is one of Brazil's most important practiotioners of choro, a master of bossa nova, samba de gafieira and jazz. He first reached major acclaim when at age 19, he made his debut as a soloist with the Brazilian Symphony, playing Weber's Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra. With a solid background in harmony, counterpoint and fugue, Paulo has also established a reputation as a great arranger, working with symphony orchestras as well as popular musicians such as Milton Nascimento and Marisa Monte. In 1988 he conducted the Brasilia Symphony Orchestra in a performance of his own composition for percussion and orchestra commemorating the Centennial of the Abolition of Slavery in Brazil. Since then he has been guest conductor of a series of concerts in Porto Alegre, Salvador, and Espirito Santo. Among his awards for work as composer, arranger and instrumentalist are the Sarney, Villa-Lobos, Brahma Extra Prizes and Honorary Citizen of Rio de Janeiro. In 1992 he received Brazil's PrΩmio Sharp as best Popular Musician of the year, and the prize for the best soloist in Moscow's Mozart Festival. Moura's CD Pixinguinha was awarded the 1997 PrΩmio Sharp for best instrumental CD and best instrumental group.
We are particularly fond of Mistura e Manda, the CD Paulo recorded with Raphael Rabello called Dois Irmπos and the recordings he did of the music of the great maestro RadamΘs Gnatalli. Needless to say, we consider ourselves one of Paulo's greatest fans. And we KNOW he's a sweetie to boot!