Toquinho

Brazilian Guitarist for Bossa Nova & MPB

Brazilian Music

A Luz Do Solo

Made In Coração
with Sadao Watanabe

Here's a beautiful album of Brazilian jazz from the Japanese sax player Sadao Watanabe and the Brazilian guitarist Toquinho. The album contains mostly original tunes, with one Brazilian standard, Carinhoso, and includes the lyrical Saudades de Elis, dedicated to the late great Elis Regina, Brazilian vocalist extraordinaire. The two players are ably supported by a terrific rhythm section of mostly Brazilian musicians on bass, drums and percussion, with additional guitar by Edson Alves, keyboards from Amilson Godoy, and four female vocalists. This is not a very long album, but the lyricism and musicianship are exceptional. In my humble opinion, this is one of the best albums of Brazilian jazz there is, put out by a non-Brazilian. --an Amazon reviewer
 

O Grande Encontro De
with Vinícius de Moraes and Maria Creuza
 

Samba De Rosa
with Vinicius de Moraes

Sinal Aberto: Serie Ao Vivo
with Paulinho da Viola
double album (2000)

This is a great album even if it has too little Toquinho for Toquinho lovers and too little Paulinho for Paulinho lovers. It would have been better as 4 CDs. For Paulinho/samba lovers: for me the great tracks on this double album are Tempos Idos, a forgotten but very beautiful Cartola tune; Dama de Espadas; Cantando; and other classics. For Toquinho lovers, there are a number of good bossa classics, including a few he wrote with Vinicius, like Tarde em Itapoa. But the most fun is hearing how these two guys perform in each other's worlds. It's a rare treat to hear Paulinho singing bossa nova and to hear Toquinho comping in choro. The music is beautiful, intimate, and 'amicavel'. Who would have guessed ? Also, side benefit - for choro lovers, there is a great Toquinho performance of Abismo das Rosas and a nice Paulinho performance of his composition Choro Negro. All told, a must-have album. -an Amazon reviewer

Toquinho & Vinícius (Personalidade series)
with Vinícius de Moraes

This collection of classic bossa nova spotlights the partnership of Brazilian poet and lyricist Vinicius de Moraes with guitarist Toquinho. Full of rich, warm bossa nova, this CD spans the classic bossa nova complete with female backup singers, softened production, and organ. The flute floats luxuriously in and out of these tunes, transporting one to the beaches of Rio while the steady, Bahian-rooted samba rhythms pulse throughout. There's no great voice like João Gilberto here, but plenty of sensual, seductive bossa nova by two key innovators of the movement. --Karen K. Hugg
 

Toquinho (Serie Focus)
best-of compilation
(1999)
 

Vinicius & Toquinho
with Vinicius de Moraes
(1974)

Vinicius + Bethânia + Toquinho En La Fusa
with Vinicius de Moraes & Maria Bethânia
(1971)

La Fusa was a "cafe concert" (night club) located in Mar del Plata, Argentina in the late sixties, and later moving to Punta del Este, Uruguay. The two cities were, and are, the playground of the Argentine high class (and increasingly middle class as well). Vinicius [with Toquinho and Bethania] brought his great Brazilian musicians to demonstrate the wonderfulness of bossa nova to appreciating crowds. There are two recordings, this one made I believe in Mar del Plata, and another one (referred to above) made in Punta del este with Maria Creuza, which is also wonderful. The live history of bossa nova. --an Amazon reviewer
 

Vinicius De Moraes con Toquinho
y Maria Creuza En La Fusa
with Vinicius & Maria Creuza
(1970)

The first among many Toquinho - Vinicius albums brings some of the greatest Vinicius songs through his new collaboration with guitarist and singer Toquinho. According to liner notes written by Vinicius himself, he became acquainted with Toquinho in Buenos Aries club called La Fusa, where the latter performed samba and bossa nova with female singer Maria Creuza. The encounter resulted with this beautiful and historic recording, full of great bossa nova standards like Jobim's A Felicidade, Lamento no Morro, Garota de Ipanema, Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar and Se Todos Fossem Iguais a Voce, Baden Powell's Berimbao, Consola, and marvellous version of Samba em Preludio, as well as some less known but equally beautiful songs like Carlos Lyra's Minha Namorada, Caetano Veloso's Irene, Toquinho - Jorge Ben's Que Maravilha and Vinicius' Tomara. Arrangements consist of Toquinho's guitar, bass and percussion and excellent vocal arrangements of three of lead performers Vinicius, Toquinho and Maria Creuza. This album is a must for any bossa nova collector, but at the same time a great introductory album for all those that are not yet initiated. --an Amazon reviewer