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Kurt Rosenwinkel Drops by The Checkout to Discuss a New Infatuation: The Music of Brazil

Courtesy of the artist
Kurt Rosenwinkel

 

Kurt Rosenwinkel might be the preeminent jazz guitarist of his generation. He’s also an artist who has taken some unexpected turns in an already fascinating career. Once a stalwart on New York’s jazz scene, he left to pursue musical opportunities in Europe. Then he made a new creative shift, pointing his laser-like focus to another realm of possibility: the music of Brazil.

His first foray into Brazilian music came in 2017 with Caipi, which draws from decades of music experience. Not only does Rosenwinkel play all the instruments on that album — piano, synth, bass, drums, percussion, and, of course guitar — he also makes his vocal debut.

Credit Heartcore Records
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Heartcore Records
Pedro Martins, whose debut album is 'Vox'

That aspect had something to do with the album’s undervaluing by the critical establishment. But Rosenwinkel was undeterred, deepening his Brazilian exploration through a collaboration with Pedro Martins, a promising young songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Brasilia.

Martins, who also appears throughout Caipi, now has his own intoxicating album: Vox, proudly produced by Rosenwinkel and released on his label, Heartcore Records. They’ll perform music from both recordings during an engagement at Birdland, April 23 to 27.

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Assistant Producer: Anthony Nieves

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For more than 15 years, Simon Rentner has worked as a host, producer, broadcaster, web journalist, and music presenter in New York City. His career gives him the opportunity to cover a wide spectrum of topics including, history, culture, and, most importantly, his true passion of music from faraway places such as Europe, South America, and Africa.