MASTER OF THE MANDOLIN – HAMILTON DE HOLANDA AT GENTING JAZZ FEST 

Choro is the Brazilian version of New Orleans jazz. It was tremendously popular in the 1920s-40s where all-night jam sessions were synonymous with social life – or rather, Life itself! These jam sessions, called sauras, were quite elitist – only the very proficient were allowed to go up to play. And improvisation was the key to the game.

This music died out for a while in the mid-20th century. But it is now seeing a huge revival in popularity and demand – not just in Brazil, but all over the world. Many of the musicians now hail from the younger generation.

Literally, “choro” means “to cry”. However, the music is nowhere near a lament – it is fast and furious and buoyant in nature. Indeed, choro musicians are usually dazzling virtuosos. The “cry” refers to the tonal qualities of the original instruments associated with the choro like the clarinet, and the name has stuck.

Its textures and polyphonic lines are extremely complex. Like many countries outside 19th-century Europe, it grew out of the marriage of local folk traditions and European polkas. The choro weaves the elegant melodic lines of the Portuguese with the pulsating rhythms of Africa.

Brazil is famous for its dazzling mandolin players. And coming to the Genting International Jazz Festival is one of the star mandolinists of choro – Hamilton de Holanda.

Hamilton will perform with his quintet, a10-stringed bandolin joined by outstanding solo stars from Brazil. They are Andre Vasconellos on bass, Daniel Santiago on guitar, Gabriel Grossi on harmonica and Marcio Bahia on drums. Each and every one of them have worked with a long list of music legends in the course of their careers.

The band recently won the Brazilian equivalent of the Grammy for Best Instrumental Group in 2007; Hamilton himself won Best Performer.

The Genting International Jazz Festival will bring Hamilton de Holanda’s 2nd part of his famous Brasilianos tour to Malaysia for the first time.

Once onstage, this quiet unassuming young man unleashes a surprising torrent of charisma and rapid-fire playing that exudes a powerful grip on audiences. More than just technical brilliance, he also possesses an array of expressive tonal inflections and emotional nuances. Mix all that together and you have nothing less than an unforgettable musical experience.

And this is only one of the 10 acts that Genting is bringing together on the 4th and 5th of April 2008.

Tickets are priced at RM100 and RM150 for the 1-day and 2-day packages respectively. More information can be found at www.gentingjazz.com or by calling  03-2718 1118.

If you go to one jazz fest in your lifetime, go to this one. At only 31, Hamilton de Holanda has made headlines in the music industry and is almost destined for superstardom. Genting is proud to have him as one of the finest performers this show has ever seen.

Meet the man who not only plays but lives his music with a passion. Live it with him at the Genting International Jazz Festival 2008.

Yeoh Jun Lin
Artistic Director
Genting International Jazz Festival