Claudio Celso

Claudio Celso was born in São Paulo, Brazil. He began playing guitar at the age of four.[5] He initially studied classical guitar and then learned bossa nova and jazz with guitarist/composer Paulinho Nogueira and also with his father, Nilson M. Celso, who was an early electric guitarist in Brazil.[5]

Celso is known for impeccable technique and deep jazz roots[6][7][8] and for his breadth of experience.[5][9] His career has included working with the Brazilian instrumental ensemble Zimbo Trio for over two years.[5] He accompanied major popular artists with the Tupi Television Orchestra while in his hometown, São Paulo.[10] From 1978 until 1985 he was based in New York City and worked with numerous well-known jazz icons and producers Teo Macero, Creed Taylor, Roy Cicala and Eumir Deodato.[1][5] He studied composition and arranging with Don Sebesky while in New York.[5][10] He has subsequently worked internationally with numerous renowned musicians and has been playing in music clubs, concert venues and jazz festivals.[5][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

Presently, Claudio is rehearsing a brand-new composition - Suite “Axis Mundi” - with Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Santos (Brazil) – a concert designed for electric guitar and orchestra. This project unites both classical and contemporary music in an effort to revitalize passion and interest for symphonic instruments in young audiences all around the world.[5]

In addition to his career as a performer, Claudio does guitar clinics and writes articles for Guitar Player Magazine.[18] He has taught extensively in his own country and internationally, published a Jazz Guitar instructional video, and mentored Brazilian guitar stars.

He frequently gives newspaper, magazine, radio and TV interviews, including an acclaimed interview with Guitarra Cover Magazine.[19] His 2007 appearance on Programa do Jô, the popular TV talk show in Brazil, was followed by 4.6 million viewers.[20]

In 2014, under the Rouanet Law, which allows tax payers (both persons and corporations) to make donations or sponsorships to cultural projects and get tax exemption,[21] he received a grant from the Brazilian Ministry of Culture for a project which includes concerts and workshops throughout Brazil, and the recording of two new CDs.[22]

His recordings include:[23]

• (2020) Axis Mundis - Suite for Guitar and Orchestra (Claudio Celso) – Boom Boom Records - CD[24]
• (2019) Alpha Solaris (Claudio Celso) – Boom Boom Records - EP[25]
• (2019) Agreste (Claudio Celso) – Boom Boom Records - Single[25]
• (2019) A Cool Jazz Experience (Claudio Celso) – Boom Boom Records - EP[25]
• (2013) Turno di Notte (Francesco Lattanzi) DC Records/Italy – CD
• (2010) The Music of Claudio Celso (Claudio Celso) - Reverbnation - CD
• (2010) Surf Life (Claudio Celso) – CDBaby - CD
• (2009) Sambatuque (Salaberry) - Tum Tum Home Music - CD[26]
• (2006) Swell – A Brazilian Cool Jazz Experience (Claudio Celso) - Maritaca – CD
• (2005) Vida de Artista (Paulo Freire) - Vai Ouvindo - CD[27]
• (1998) Amazon Moon - The Music of Mike Stoller (Guilherme Vergueiro) - CD
• (1998) Padre Pio (Giacomo Piraino) – Boca Raton/Florida – CD
• (1998) Brazilian Jazz by Claudio Celso (Claudio Celso) - Universal Music - CD
• (1992) Raul Seixas – O Início, o Fim e o Meio (various artists) – Epic/Sony Music - CD
• (1991) O Inferno é Fogo (Lobão) – BMG - LP
• (1991) Lucky! (Sandra de Sá) - BMG Ariola – LP
• (1990) Pepê (various artists) – Fonobrás – LP
• (1990) A Girl from Ipanema (Ana France) - Yamaha Jazz - LP[28]
• (1989) Mais (Marisa Monte) – video
• (1989) Pé de Boi: Power Samba Band (Guilherme Franco) - Arcadia - LP[29]
• (1986) Vania Bastos (Vania Bastos) - Bom Tempo/Copacabana – LP
• (1986) Intelligence (Intelligence) – RCA – LP
• (1984) Red on Red (Claudio Roditi) - Greene St Records – LP
• (1982) The Brazilian Beat of Guanabara - Baystate Records - LP
• (1981) Jewel Eyes (Frank Ferrucci) – Wren Records - LP
• (1980) Elegia (Lloyd McNeill) - Baobab Records Co. - LP

Compositions include:[30]

LP The Brazilian Beat of Guanabara

• "Vento"[31]

LP Intelligence[32]

• "Explode Alegria" (w/Simbas)
• "Homem do Fogo" (w/ Pedro & Albino Infantozzi, Simbas and Glauco Guerin)
• "Manhê” (w/ Simbas, Pedro Infantozzi and Albino Infantozzi)
• "Quero Ficar na Cidade” (w/ Kim Milford)
• "Rádio” (w/ David Musser)
• "Saudade de Você" (w/Simbas)
• "Sonho Louco” (w/ Pedro Infantozzi and Simbas)
• "Você Está Sempre em Mim” (w/ Kim Milford and Simbas)

CD Brazilian Jazz[33]

• "Song for Anita"
• "Ascension"
• "Jungle Beat"
• "Children"
• "SUS"
• "Raga"

CD Swell - A Brazilian Cool Jazz Experience[34]

• "Delfina"
• "Hades"
• "Liana's Waltz”
• "Presente para Deisy"
• "Song for Anita"
• "Swell"
• "Tomatoes"
• "Tudo Azul em Monicaland"

CD Surf Life[35]

• "Ascension"
• "Back in the Water"
• "Balloneh"
• "Beach Break"
• "High Tide"
• "Hope"
• "Koalytha´s Dream"
• "Panda the Fairy"
• "What a Day"

EP Alpha Solaris[36]

• "Lifting Off"
• "Ascending"
• "Lending on Alpha Solaris"
• "Jupiter 1"

Single Agreste[37]

• "Cangaceiro"
• "Menina Bonita"

EP A Cool Jazz Experience[38]

• "Hades"
• "Swell"
• "Presente para Deisy"
• "Delfina"

CD Axis Mundis - Suite for Guitar and Orchestra[24]

• "Hades"
• "Sininha"
• "Beach Break"
• "Jungle Beat"
• "Leil dos Homens"
• "A Medley of Baloneh, Back in the Water & Hope"

• Claudio Celso Official Site
• Claudio Celso - CDBaby
• Claudio Celso - The Alpha Solaris Project
• Claudio Celso - Facebook