Ten Strings, Infinite Possibilities: Hamilton de Holanda's Choro Revolution

In this episode, host Steve Roby sits down with Grammy-winning Brazilian mandolin virtuoso Hamilton de Holanda to discuss his innovative approach to the 10-string bandolim, the deep connections between choro and jazz, and his upcoming SFJAZZ performance.

Episode Highlights:

Hamilton shares his musical upbringing in a family where instruments were his childhood toys, receiving his first mandolin as a Christmas gift at age five in 1981. He discusses the power of the trio format with drummer Big Bel and keyboardist Thiago Alves, calling it the "perfect formation" that allows complete musical freedom.

The conversation explores two featured tracks from Hamilton's Latin Grammy-winning live album, recorded in New York City:

"Afro Choro" – Composed during the 2020 pandemic as part of a prolific period in which Hamilton wrote over 300 songs, this piece celebrates the African roots of choro music and features a stunning improvisation by saxophonist Chris Potter that bridges Brazilian and American jazz traditions.

"o1 Byte 10 Cordas" – Inspired by Hamilton's stepson (a tech genius who also plays the 10-string mandolin) and the classic Afro Sambas album by Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes, this composition reflects Hamilton's philosophy of bridging tradition and modernity.

Hamilton describes his artistic mission as finding "the perfect way to play between the modern and the traditional," a philosophy that extends beyond music into his daily life.

Upcoming Performance:

Hamilton de Holanda Trio

SF Jazz Center – Miner Auditorium

Friday, January 16th at 7:30 PM

The trio will perform selections from their Latin Grammy-winning live album plus brand new compositions written during their current U.S. tour. Expect an evening of virtuosic musicianship, deep Brazilian tradition, and fearless improvisation.

Get Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/hamilton-de-holanda-trio/

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