Mauro Diniz
Encyclopedia
Mauro Diniz is a Brazil
ian professional cavaquinist
. He also has a career as a songwriter and singer.
samba
, Oswaldo Cruz, at the age of 4 stayed between his father's legs, stunning everyone with his ability on the first cavaquinho
chords. At the age of 8, besides having written a parody for one of his father's sambas, for the samba-enredo
of the Bloco da Alegria carnival block, was presented with a guitar by his mother Thereza, pastora of the samba school
Portela. Therefore Mauro Diniz gave his first steps towards music guided by the Old Guard of Portela. Had his dreams rocked by antologic sambas from his greatest idol, his father, known by some as the "Extraordinary Monarco from Portela".
Mauro Diniz was an enviable autodidact, during a long while. At the age of 24 he bought his first cavaquinho
, never letting go of the instrument until exchanging it for one which had belonged to "Master Nelson Cavaquinho
", which accompanies him to this day. In 1982, started attending Physical Education College, not finishing the course due to the frequent trips he took integrating singer Beth Carvalho
's band. Mauro Diniz studied music with people such as the late Copinha, maestro Joaquim Nagle and, indicated by producer Rildo Hora, went on to study classical piano, harmony and perception.
Some time later he enrolled in CIGAM, one of the best music courses in Rio de Janeiro
, where he concluded the course of Harmony, Improvisation and Arrangement. Mauro was also a student of Ian Guest, which he considers one of his greatest masters.
. His strumming patterns are among the most unpredictable and surprising in the samba world, and a lot of the patterns which are part of the standard repertoire of cavaquinho
players in the current samba scene were introduced by him. Mauro has recorded with all major samba names; his recordings with Almir Guineto
are specially known for cavaquinho rhythm virtuosism; not the least, his recordings with Zeca Pagodinho
and Beth Carvalho
are registered as the foundation for new generations of sambistas.
Some others with whom Mauro has recorded (the list would encompass almost every known sambista): Moacyr Luz, Monarco, Jorge Aragão
, Wilson Moreira
, Luiz Carlos da Vila and the Old Guard of Portela.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian professional cavaquinist
Cavaquinho
The cavaquinho is a small string instrument of the European guitar family with four wire or gut strings. It is also called machimbo, machim, machete , manchete or marchete, braguinha or braguinho, or cavaco.The most common tuning is D-G-B-D ; other tunings include D-A-B-E...
. He also has a career as a songwriter and singer.
Biography
Born in 1952 in one of the most traditional neighborhoods of cariocaCarioca
Carioca is a Portuguese adjective or demonym that is used to refer to the native inhabitants of the city of Rio de Janeiro - capital of the homonym state , in Brazil...
samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
, Oswaldo Cruz, at the age of 4 stayed between his father's legs, stunning everyone with his ability on the first cavaquinho
Cavaquinho
The cavaquinho is a small string instrument of the European guitar family with four wire or gut strings. It is also called machimbo, machim, machete , manchete or marchete, braguinha or braguinho, or cavaco.The most common tuning is D-G-B-D ; other tunings include D-A-B-E...
chords. At the age of 8, besides having written a parody for one of his father's sambas, for the samba-enredo
Samba-enredo
Samba-enredo is a sub-genre of Samba in which songs are performed by a samba school for the festivities of Carnaval. "Samba-enredo" is the Portuguese equivalent of "samba in song", or "song samba"....
of the Bloco da Alegria carnival block, was presented with a guitar by his mother Thereza, pastora of the samba school
Samba school
A samba school is a club or dancing school. They practice and often perform in huge square-compounds devoted to practicing and exhibiting samba, an African-Brazilian dance. The schools are traditionally associated with a particular neighborhood, often shanty towns...
Portela. Therefore Mauro Diniz gave his first steps towards music guided by the Old Guard of Portela. Had his dreams rocked by antologic sambas from his greatest idol, his father, known by some as the "Extraordinary Monarco from Portela".
Mauro Diniz was an enviable autodidact, during a long while. At the age of 24 he bought his first cavaquinho
Cavaquinho
The cavaquinho is a small string instrument of the European guitar family with four wire or gut strings. It is also called machimbo, machim, machete , manchete or marchete, braguinha or braguinho, or cavaco.The most common tuning is D-G-B-D ; other tunings include D-A-B-E...
, never letting go of the instrument until exchanging it for one which had belonged to "Master Nelson Cavaquinho
Nelson Cavaquinho
Nelson Cavaquinho was one of the most important singer/composers of samba. He is usually seen as a representative of the tragic aspects of samba thematics, with many songs about death and hopelessness...
", which accompanies him to this day. In 1982, started attending Physical Education College, not finishing the course due to the frequent trips he took integrating singer Beth Carvalho
Beth Carvalho
Elizabeth Santos Leal de Carvalho is a Brazilian samba singer, guitarist, cavaquinist and composer.-Biography:...
's band. Mauro Diniz studied music with people such as the late Copinha, maestro Joaquim Nagle and, indicated by producer Rildo Hora, went on to study classical piano, harmony and perception.
Some time later he enrolled in CIGAM, one of the best music courses in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, where he concluded the course of Harmony, Improvisation and Arrangement. Mauro was also a student of Ian Guest, which he considers one of his greatest masters.
Achievements
Today, Mauro Diniz is among the most praised cavaquinists in Brazil, and is one of the most studious. Mauro developed, as does every cavaquinho player, his own style, which was one of the most influentials and which is already part of the history of sambaSamba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
. His strumming patterns are among the most unpredictable and surprising in the samba world, and a lot of the patterns which are part of the standard repertoire of cavaquinho
Cavaquinho
The cavaquinho is a small string instrument of the European guitar family with four wire or gut strings. It is also called machimbo, machim, machete , manchete or marchete, braguinha or braguinho, or cavaco.The most common tuning is D-G-B-D ; other tunings include D-A-B-E...
players in the current samba scene were introduced by him. Mauro has recorded with all major samba names; his recordings with Almir Guineto
Almir Guineto
Almir Guineto is a Brazilian sambista, singer/songwriter and instrumentalist, working in the genres of samba and pagode.-Biography:...
are specially known for cavaquinho rhythm virtuosism; not the least, his recordings with Zeca Pagodinho
Zeca Pagodinho
Zeca Pagodinho is a Brazilian singer/songwriter working in the genres of samba and pagode.-Biography:...
and Beth Carvalho
Beth Carvalho
Elizabeth Santos Leal de Carvalho is a Brazilian samba singer, guitarist, cavaquinist and composer.-Biography:...
are registered as the foundation for new generations of sambistas.
Some others with whom Mauro has recorded (the list would encompass almost every known sambista): Moacyr Luz, Monarco, Jorge Aragão
Jorge Aragão
Jorge Aragão , birth name Jorge Aragão da Cruz) is a Brazilian musician, singer/songwriter, working in the genres of samba and pagode. He is a multi-instrumentalist, and plays the guitar, surdo, cavaco and banjo, among other instruments...
, Wilson Moreira
Wilson Moreira
Wilson Moreira is a Brazilian sambista, singer/songwriter, especially known for his exquisite and intricate melody lines.-Biography:Wilson Moreira was born in the neighborhood of Realengo, in Rio de Janeiro...
, Luiz Carlos da Vila and the Old Guard of Portela.