Rafael Rabello
Encyclopedia
Rafael Baptista Rabello was a virtuoso Brazil
ian guitarist
and composer
. During the 1980s and 1990s, he was considered one of the best acoustic guitar players in the world and played with many famous artists, such as Tom Jobim, Ney Matogrosso
, Paulo Moura
and Paco de Lucia
.
, Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
. He was the youngest child of his family, which included many musicians. His sister Luciana made a name for herself on the cavaquinho
, his other sister, Amélia, became a singer. His first guitar teacher was an older brother, Ruy Fabiano, when Raphael Rabello was seven years old. However, the biggest influence on Rabello starting his musical studies was his grandfather, José de Queiroz Baptista, who was a choro guitar player.
He studied musical theory with Maria Alice Salles, who also taught his brothers and sisters. In the 1970s, he took guitar lessons with Jaime Florence, the famous Meira, who had also taught Baden Powell
in the 1940s. In the same period, he studied harmony with Ian Guest. Influenced by Dino 7 Cordas
, Rabello eventually switched to the Brazilian seven-string guitar and started playing professionally when he was a teenager.
music by classical guitarist Turibio Santos
. In this period, he took lessons from guitarist Dino 7 Cordas (Dino 7 strings), with whom he recorded an LP in 1991.
In 1976, he founded the group Os Carioquinhas, with his sister Luciana Rabello (cavaquinho), Paulo Alves (mandolin), Téo (acoustic guitar) and Mario Florêncio (tambourine). The band became famous and played with many other choro groups, such as Época de Ouro and Quinteto Villa-Lobos. They also recorded one album in 1977.
In 1979, Rabello became a member of Camerata Carioca. This was the period in which he met Radamés Gnattali
, who became a partner of Rabello. They recorded one disc together in 1984. Three years later, Rabello also recorded a tribute album to Gnattali.
Between 1980 and 1981, Rabello became a studio musician and started recording with many singers and instrumentalists. In this same period, he started his career as an arranger, working for the group Galo Preto.
. His first album was released in 1982 and, influenced by Dino 7 Cordas, Rabello adopted the name 'Raphael 7 Cordas', which was also the name of his first record. However, he did not use this nickname for very long.
Throughout his career, Rabello recorded 16 albums, some of them with memorable artists, such as Dino 7 Cordas
, Elizeth Cardoso and Paulo Moura
. He also participated on about 600 albums recording in Brazil and abroad. He participated in concerts and recordings with a number of well-known Brazilian musicians, such as Tom Jobim, Ney Matogrosso
, Jaques Morelenbaum
and Paulo Moura
, as well as international players, such as Paco de Lucia
.
Rabello also became famous abroad. He performed shows in Italy, Switzerland, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Portugal, France, Canada and United States. In 1994, he moved to the USA and met Laurindo de Almeida, who helped to spread his work around the world. There, he also gave guitar lessons in Los Angeles. At the end of the same year, he returned to Brazil to participate in the project "Orgulho do Brasil", which had the goal of recording songs composed by the most notable artists of that country. In this project, he recorded a tribute to Capiba, which was released in 2002.
followed by respiratory arrest
.
His latest posthumous release is the project he was working on when he died: a tribute to Lourenço da Fonseca Barbosa, known as Capiba (1904–1997). He was one of the arrangers, is credited as producer, played a lot of the guitar and even sang on one of the tracks. The guest-singer list is a veritable "who-is-who" of Brazilian singers: Chico Buarque
, Paulinho da Viola
, Gal Costa
, Caetano Veloso
, Maria Bethânia
, Alceu Valença
, João Bosco
, and Ney Matogrosso
.
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 guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. During the 1980s and 1990s, he was considered one of the best acoustic guitar players in the world and played with many famous artists, such as Tom Jobim, Ney Matogrosso
Ney Matogrosso
Ney de Sousa Pereira, known as Ney Matogrosso is a Brazilian singer who is distinguished for his uncommon sopranino voice.-Biography:...
, Paulo Moura
Paulo Moura
Paulo Moura was a Brazilian clarinetist and saxophonist....
and Paco de Lucia
Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
.
Early years
Raphael Rabello was born in PetrópolisPetrópolis
Petrópolis , also known as The Imperial City of Brazil, is a town in the state of Rio de Janeiro, about 65 km from the city of Rio de Janeiro....
, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
, Brazil
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...
. He was the youngest child of his family, which included many musicians. His sister Luciana made a name for herself on the 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...
, his other sister, Amélia, became a singer. His first guitar teacher was an older brother, Ruy Fabiano, when Raphael Rabello was seven years old. However, the biggest influence on Rabello starting his musical studies was his grandfather, José de Queiroz Baptista, who was a choro guitar player.
He studied musical theory with Maria Alice Salles, who also taught his brothers and sisters. In the 1970s, he took guitar lessons with Jaime Florence, the famous Meira, who had also taught Baden Powell
Baden Powell de Aquino
Baden Powell de Aquino usually known simply as Baden Powell, was one of the greatest Brazilian guitarists. He explored the instrument to its utmost limits, playing it in a distinctive, unique manner, incorporating virtuoso classical techniques together with popular harmony and swing...
in the 1940s. In the same period, he studied harmony with Ian Guest. Influenced by Dino 7 Cordas
Dino 7 Cordas
Horondino José da Silva , best known as Dino Sete Cordas , was a Brazilian guitar player renowned as the greatest influence in seven-string guitar, a musical instrument in which he developed his own language and techniques, and one of the greatest choro instrumentalists ever.He developed the...
, Rabello eventually switched to the Brazilian seven-string guitar and started playing professionally when he was a teenager.
Early musical career
His first recording as a sideman was at age 14 on a recording of choroChoro
Choro , traditionally called chorinho , is a Brazilian popular music instrumental style. Its origins are in 19th century Rio de Janeiro. In spite of the name, the style often has a fast and happy rhythm, characterized by virtuosity, improvisation, subtile modulations and full of syncopation and...
music by classical guitarist Turibio Santos
Turibio Santos
Turibio Soares Santos is considered one of the best Brazilian guitar players alive.He established himself with a wide repertoire of pieces by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Ernesto Nazareth, Francisco Mignone, and by accompanying musicians like Clara Sverner, Paulo Moura and Olivia Byington on many CDs.At...
. In this period, he took lessons from guitarist Dino 7 Cordas (Dino 7 strings), with whom he recorded an LP in 1991.
In 1976, he founded the group Os Carioquinhas, with his sister Luciana Rabello (cavaquinho), Paulo Alves (mandolin), Téo (acoustic guitar) and Mario Florêncio (tambourine). The band became famous and played with many other choro groups, such as Época de Ouro and Quinteto Villa-Lobos. They also recorded one album in 1977.
In 1979, Rabello became a member of Camerata Carioca. This was the period in which he met Radamés Gnattali
Radamés Gnattali
Radamés Gnattali , was a Brazilian classical composer, conductor, orchestrator, and arranger.Radamés Gnattali was born in Porto Alegre, the son of Alessandro Gnattali and Adélia Fossati. Both his father and mother were musicians...
, who became a partner of Rabello. They recorded one disc together in 1984. Three years later, Rabello also recorded a tribute album to Gnattali.
Between 1980 and 1981, Rabello became a studio musician and started recording with many singers and instrumentalists. In this same period, he started his career as an arranger, working for the group Galo Preto.
Revelation
His most productive years spanned 1982 to 1995. He was considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists of his generation. He played in many different styles, but specialized in choroChoro
Choro , traditionally called chorinho , is a Brazilian popular music instrumental style. Its origins are in 19th century Rio de Janeiro. In spite of the name, the style often has a fast and happy rhythm, characterized by virtuosity, improvisation, subtile modulations and full of syncopation and...
. His first album was released in 1982 and, influenced by Dino 7 Cordas, Rabello adopted the name 'Raphael 7 Cordas', which was also the name of his first record. However, he did not use this nickname for very long.
Throughout his career, Rabello recorded 16 albums, some of them with memorable artists, such as Dino 7 Cordas
Dino 7 Cordas
Horondino José da Silva , best known as Dino Sete Cordas , was a Brazilian guitar player renowned as the greatest influence in seven-string guitar, a musical instrument in which he developed his own language and techniques, and one of the greatest choro instrumentalists ever.He developed the...
, Elizeth Cardoso and Paulo Moura
Paulo Moura
Paulo Moura was a Brazilian clarinetist and saxophonist....
. He also participated on about 600 albums recording in Brazil and abroad. He participated in concerts and recordings with a number of well-known Brazilian musicians, such as Tom Jobim, Ney Matogrosso
Ney Matogrosso
Ney de Sousa Pereira, known as Ney Matogrosso is a Brazilian singer who is distinguished for his uncommon sopranino voice.-Biography:...
, Jaques Morelenbaum
Jaques Morelenbaum
Jaques Morelenbaum is a Brazilian instrumentalist, arranger, conductor, composer and music producer.Morelenbaum is the son of conductor Henrique Morelenbaum and piano teacher Sarah Morelenbaum. His siblings are Lucia Morelenbaum, clarinetist of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra; and Eduardo...
and Paulo Moura
Paulo Moura
Paulo Moura was a Brazilian clarinetist and saxophonist....
, as well as international players, such as Paco de Lucia
Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
.
Rabello also became famous abroad. He performed shows in Italy, Switzerland, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Portugal, France, Canada and United States. In 1994, he moved to the USA and met Laurindo de Almeida, who helped to spread his work around the world. There, he also gave guitar lessons in Los Angeles. At the end of the same year, he returned to Brazil to participate in the project "Orgulho do Brasil", which had the goal of recording songs composed by the most notable artists of that country. In this project, he recorded a tribute to Capiba, which was released in 2002.
Final years
In 1989, Rabello was in a car accident and suffered multiple fractures in his right arm. After a delicate surgery, he recovered and continued to play months later. However, during the surgery, he contracted HIV in a blood transfusion. Hopeless, he became addicted to alcohol and drugs. On April 27, 1995, Rafael Rabello died of cardiac dysrhythmiaCardiac dysrhythmia
Cardiac dysrhythmia is any of a large and heterogeneous group of conditions in which there is abnormal electrical activity in the heart. The heart beat may be too fast or too slow, and may be regular or irregular.Some arrhythmias are life-threatening medical emergencies that can result in cardiac...
followed by respiratory arrest
Respiratory arrest
Respiratory arrest is the cessation of breathing. It is a medical emergency and it usually is related to or coincides with a cardiac arrest. Causes include opiate overdose, head injury, anaesthesia, tetanus, or drowning...
.
Legacy
Rabello has had two full-length CDs released posthumously and a choro school was named after him.His latest posthumous release is the project he was working on when he died: a tribute to Lourenço da Fonseca Barbosa, known as Capiba (1904–1997). He was one of the arrangers, is credited as producer, played a lot of the guitar and even sang on one of the tracks. The guest-singer list is a veritable "who-is-who" of Brazilian singers: Chico Buarque
Chico Buarque
Francisco Buarque de Hollanda , popularly known as Chico Buarque , is a singer, guitarist, composer, dramatist, writer and poet...
, Paulinho da Viola
Paulinho da Viola
Paulinho da Viola is a Brazilian sambista, singer/songwriter, guitar, cavaquinho and mandolin player, known for his sophisticated harmonies and soft, gentle singing voice.-Biography:...
, Gal Costa
Gal Costa
Gal Costa is a Brazilian singer of popular music.-Early life:...
, Caetano Veloso
Caetano Veloso
Caetano Emanuel Viana Teles Veloso , better known as Caetano Veloso, is a Brazilian composer, singer, guitarist, writer, and political activist. Veloso first became known for his participation in the Brazilian musical movement Tropicalismo which encompassed theatre, poetry and music in the 1960s,...
, Maria Bethânia
Maria Bethânia
Maria Bethânia Vianna Telles Veloso , better known as Maria Bethânia , is a singer and sister of Caetano Veloso. She started her career in Rio de Janeiro in 1964 with the show "Opinião"...
, Alceu Valença
Alceu Valença
Alceu Valença is a Brazilian composer, writer, performer, actor, and poet.Alceu Valenca was born in countryside Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil...
, João Bosco
João Bosco
João Bosco de Freitas Mucci, better known as João Bosco is a noted Brazilian singer-songwriter with a distinctive style as a guitarist...
, and Ney Matogrosso
Ney Matogrosso
Ney de Sousa Pereira, known as Ney Matogrosso is a Brazilian singer who is distinguished for his uncommon sopranino voice.-Biography:...
.
Discography
- 1982: Rafael Sete Cordas (Polygram)
- 1984: Tributo a Garoto (Barclay), with Radamés GnattaliRadamés GnattaliRadamés Gnattali , was a Brazilian classical composer, conductor, orchestrator, and arranger.Radamés Gnattali was born in Porto Alegre, the son of Alessandro Gnattali and Adélia Fossati. Both his father and mother were musicians...
- 1987: Interpreta Radamés Gnattali (Visom)
- 1988: Rafael Rabello (Visom)
- 1990: A flor da pele (Polygram/Philips), with Ney MatogrossoNey MatogrossoNey de Sousa Pereira, known as Ney Matogrosso is a Brazilian singer who is distinguished for his uncommon sopranino voice.-Biography:...
- 1991: Todo sentimento (Columbia), with Elizeth Cardoso
- 1991: Raphael Rabello & Dino 7 Cordas (Caju Music), with Dino 7 CordasDino 7 CordasHorondino José da Silva , best known as Dino Sete Cordas , was a Brazilian guitar player renowned as the greatest influence in seven-string guitar, a musical instrument in which he developed his own language and techniques, and one of the greatest choro instrumentalists ever.He developed the...
- 1992: Dois irmãos (Caju Music), with Paulo MouraPaulo MouraPaulo Moura was a Brazilian clarinetist and saxophonist....
- 1992: Todos os tons (RCA)
- 1992: Shades of Rio (Chesky Records), with Romero LubamboRomero LubamboRomero Lubambo is a Brazilian jazz guitar player.Romero Lubambo started learning classic piano at a very early age...
- 1993: Delicatesse (RCA), with Déo Rian
- 1994: Relendo Dilermando ReisRelendo Dilermando ReisRelendo Dilermando Reis is a 1994 album recorded by the Brazilian musician Raphael Rabello. Produced by J. C. Botezelli, also known as Pelão, the album won Prêmio Sharp for Best Soloist in the same year. The disc presents many choro and waltz songs interpreted by Dilermando Reis in the past.-Track...
(RGE) - 1997: Em concerto (Spotlight Records), with ArmandinhoArmandinhoArmandinho is a Brazilian composer and singer. he is son of Osmar Macedo, from the Trio Elétrico de Dodô e Osmar...
- 2001: Todas as canções (Acari Records), with Amália Rabello
- 2002: Mestre Capiba por Raphael Rabello e Convidados (Acari Records)
- 2005: Cry my guitar (GSP Recordings)
External links
- [ Raphael Rabello at Allmusic]