Robertinho
Silva
Reputed
Brazilian drummer and percussionist Robertinho Silva has
played and recorded with great names. His international
experience includes performances at the MIDEM (Cannes, France,
1973) and the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland, 1974).
Silva
taught himself the drums and became a professional at 15,
when he joined dance bands like the Conjunto Flamingo. At
17, he began his two-year apprenticeship with Albano Mesquita
andJoaquim Neagle. In 1964, he made his first recording,
accompanyingCaubi Peixoto. In 1969, he became acquainted
with Milton Nascimento; since then, he has been his regular
accompanist. In 1970, he joined the Som Imaginário,
remaining with them until 1974, having participated in the
two Som Imaginário albums (1970/1971). He was a sideman
for João Donato, Marcos Valle,Gilberto Gil, Taiguara,
Toninho Horta, Roberto Carlos, Gal Costa,João Bosco,
Paulo Moura, and many others. He moved to the U.S. in 1974
(where he stayed for four years), backing Airto Moreira,
Moacyr Santos, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Shelly Manne,
Peggy Lee, Cal Tjader, Sarah Vaughan, George Duke, Flora
Purim, Egberto Gismonti, and other musicians. In 1981, he
released his first solo album in the Música Popular
Brasileira Contemporânea series (Polygram), with special
guests Raul de Souza and Egberto Gismonti. In 1984, he recorded
Bateria, followed by Bodas de Prata (1989),Speak No Evil
(1991), and Shot on Goal (1995), which were released internationally.
In 1985, he recorded the album Triângulo together
with pianist Luiz Eça and bassist Luiz Alves. In
1997, he opened the Centro de Percussão Alternativo
Robertinho Silva, at Rio de Janeiro, having a busy schedule
with its drums/percussion workshops. He released Jaquedu
in 2000.
