Virtuosic, brilliant and unique - those are some of the adjectives used to describe this musician who sets world audiences ablaze, developing a career studded with awards. Hamilton de Holanda started to play at 5 on a traditional 8-string “bandolim” (Brazilian mandolin). Later he added two extra strings, to a total count of 10, and reinvented it: he disentangled this emblematic Brazilian instrument from the legacy of some of its influences and styles, to make it a global instrument. In the US, the press soon dubbed him the
“Jimi Hendrix of bandolim”.
At 31 this musician from Rio de Janeiro has evolved a characteristic way of playing. His phrasing, the extra strings and his powerful sound, combined to the speed of the solo passages and improvisations, are inspiring a new generation and a new sound.
Is this jazz, samba, rock'n'roll, pop music, lundu, choro? Who cares? Hamilton is not so much after innovation than music focusing on beauty and spontaneity. He has in front of him a new world rife with possibilities. His North Star is the notion that
“Modernity IS Tradition”: the point is neither the past nor the future, but their relationship, as they merge in the present moment, here and now.
Choro, his main influence as a child and youth, finds itself transformed - not in a purist way, but in addition to his other references.
“I'm asked whether what I do is 'new choro'. New choro? I don't understand. That's perhaps because I play the bandolim. Choro is like the Mona Lisa: do you think she needs a touch-up? No! Choro too is continued by the wonderful artistry of musicians like Luperce, Jacob and Pixinguinha. Since the tradition is perpetuated, you don't have to do anything but appreciate it. In fact, what I do is a synthesis of this information with an influence from choro, bossa nova, jazz, sounds from the street… It is a music that does not need labels to exist. It just has to be beautiful.”, says Hamilton.
His trajectory includes the double Best Instrumentalist Awards (unanimously), in the two categories of academic music and popular music, of the single edition of the “Icatu Hartford of Arts” in 2001. This prize enabled him to live one year in Paris; this gave international wings to his musical work. In January 2005 at Midem (the main music trade show in the world), he performed the launching concert of the Year of Brazil in France, and his CD
“1 byte 10 strings” - the first 10-string solo bandolim album ever - receive the notable distinction of [musical ]“Choc” from Europe’s premier musical periodical Le Monde de la Musique. Hamilton was affectionately dubbed “Prince of Bandolim” in the French press, and “King” in the Brazilian press (Revista Bravo). Such figures as
Ivan Lins, Hermeto Pascoal, Maria Bethânia, Djavan and
João Bosco consider him as “One of the best musicians in the world”.
In 2007 he was nominated for the Latin Grammy for the Best Instrumental recording for
“Brasilianos” with its band, the Hamilton de Holanda Quintet, in competition with names such as Chick Corea and Béla Fleck. The quintet also won the TIM award and the title of Best Group from Jazz+ magazine, and Hamilton himself, that of Best Instrumentalist of 2007. He recently performed the Brazilian national anthem in Rio de Janeiro for the opening ceremony of the Parapanamerican Games. Hamilton appears in various major events and festivals in Brazil and internationally. He has shared stages with
Maria Bethânia, Ivan Lins, João Bosco, Seu Jorge, John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Richard Galliano, Richard Bona, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones,…
His latest production,
“BRASILIANOS 2” (2008), entirely consists of some his own compositions. It is the continuation of its cultural effort for accessibility to the general public of modern Brazilian music. In 2007 he released the solo CD
“Intimo”(adventure music), recorded in various hotel rooms worldwide, bringing democratization and accessibility to the recording technique itself, and a marvellous duet with pianist André Mehmari,
“Continua Amizade” - both for the Deckdisc/Adventure Music label.
He will soon release a duet with one of his references, the player bandolim Joel Nascimento, who is turning 70 this year and a duo recorded live January 08 with his good friend Yamandu Costa. His discography also includes guest appearances in CDs and DVDs by
Djavan, Cesaria Évora, Beth Carvalho, Zélia Duncan, Dona Ivone Lara, Ivan Lins and
João Bosco, among others….
With a splendid technique and absolute brasilian-ness, onstage or in the studio, Hamilton combines dazzling playing and performance filled with emotion. He is utterly versatile, and feels at ease in any type of line-up: solo, with an orchestra, duet, power trio, quintet…. He is currently touring with his award-winner band,
Hamilton de Holanda Quintet, consisting of
Daniel Santiago (guitar), André Vasconcellos (bass), Gabriel Grossi (harmonica) and
Márcio Bahia (drums).
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP TRACK OF HH
www.hamiltondeholanda.com
