Rique Pantoja’s Music of Brazil
On Sunday, Sept. 21, Rique Pantoja and his all-star Rio de Janeiro quintet kicked off the third season of World Music Encounters at St. David’s presenting a musical tour of his homeland, from bossa nova to samba to baio and chorro.
This is the third time Rique Pantoja sat at the church’s Yamaha grand piano for our world music series. He backed up Brazilian guitarist Gabriel Santiago and Sumie Kaneko at the Japanese show. Rique's journey began when he moved to Boston at 19 to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, then traveled to Paris to work with legendary American jazz trumpeter Chet Baker before returning to Brazil. He worked with Brazilian mega-stars Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, Djavan, Gal Costa, and Chico Buarque. Other international artists he has collaborated with include Carlos Santana, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, classical guitarist Christopher Parkening, Ernie Watts, Lee Ritenour, Airto and Flora Purim.
Tonight's performance included Jake Lampe, a multi-dimensional woodwind player who has performed with Aretha Franklin, The Who, Christopher Cross, the Austin Symphony, Quincy Jones, Dianne Reeves, and Shirley Horn. He shared a 2003 Latin Grammy nomination for Best Tejano Album for “On The Prowl,” by Ruben Ramos.
Drummer Lucio Vieira is an educator from Manaus, Brazil, who currently lives in Los Angeles. In 2012, he won a Latin Grammy for Best Brazilian Roots Album for “Iluminado,” by the legendary Dominguinhos. He has toured and recorded with Sérgio Mendes, Herb Alpert, Larry Coryell, Frank Gambale, Gilberto Gil, Maria Bethânia, and João Donato.
On guitar was Marco Antonio Santos, a Brazilian guitarist, arranger, composer, and educator based in Austin. He holds a doctorate in jazz composition and a master’s degree in jazz performance from UT Austin, and currently teaches at Huston-Tillotson University. As a performer and musical director, he has collaborated with Nenê, Di Melo, Hila Plitman, Adam Roberts, Marshall Gilkes, Hilda Maria, and Jeff Hellmer.
Bassist Aidan Berg is in his senior year at UT’s Butler School of Music pursuing a degree in jazz bass performance. He has curated two trio shows at Monk’s Jazz Club, and had the opportunity to perform alongside his mentors Diego Rivera, Mike Sailors, and Ross Margitza. Last spring he was named a 2025 Rainwater Innovation Grant recipient. As part of the grant, he will bring jazz trumpet superstar Etienne Charles to UT for a guest residency next month. Aidan is also a 2025 recipient of the Eleanor Alexander Stribling Award for Excellence in Jazz Studies at UT.
John Burnett, World Music Encounters producer and former NPR national correspondent asked of the band during the usual interview portion of the show, asked Rique about working with Chet Baker, his work around the world, and how being a person of faith has influenced his musical journey. Rique replied that he believes our creator delights in our gifts and the music offered tonight was a gift he was grateful to share with us.
World Music Encounters: Rique Pantoja's Music of Brazil
Login To Leave Comment