Ricardo Herz

Ricardo Herz is a 28 year old violinist from São Paulo, Brazil.

Despite his young age, Herz already has plenty of experience as a classically-trained musician. He also received training in jazz from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. In France, he studied with Didier Lockwood, where he (who Herz or Lockwood?) regularly conducts work-shops on Brazilian music. Back home in Brazil, Herz won the popular jury at Visa Prize for Brazilian Music in 2004. Since then, he released his first solo album, Violino Popular Brasileiro (Brazilian Popular Violin) and has performed with talented artists such as Yamandú Costa, Hamilton de Holanda and the forró legend Dominguinhos.

Herz's repertoire is extremely rich in instrumental Brazilian melodies and ranges from Northeastern rhythms to choro, samba and its multiple variables. His research and indepth knowledge of Brazilian music inspired his second solo album, Brasil em 3 por 4, which will include famous popular waltzes by composers Milton Nascimento, Pixinguinha and Djavan. Experimenting his home studio, Ricardo recorded all the violins on this album. He plays the bases, the solos and everything else. He says: "I've always wanted to record a solo album playing in duos, trios and quartets, all by myself!?, he laughs. The album will be released in September 2007.

Currently, Ricardo lives in Paris and, aside from his solo work, he performs with the groups Orquestra do Fubá and Tekere. Orquestra do Fubá is a forró band made up of young , dynamic French and Brazilian musicians. Since 2005, they have been a constant presence in France's summer festivals such as Jazz à Vienne, Jazz à Marciac, Bout du Monde Festival, among others. Tekere is a jazz/world-music sextet composed by 3 Brazilian and 3 French musicians whose undisputable quality provides an amazing range of performances, from South American ballads to North African beats. Ricardo Herz's career is currently managed by Scubidu Prods, www.scubidu.com.br, in São Paulo, Brazil

"Ricardo Herz proposes us a music that is rich in emotion and is extremely happy at the same time. Brazilian music, his area of expertise, is magnificently represented by Herz's talent and originality. He's a great composer and improviser, both at the same time; his potential is extraordinary? Didier Lockwood "Ricardo Herz, on top of his amazing musical feeling, shows on stage one of his greatest assets: his charisma!? Hamilton de Holanda

"He has a unique way of playing forró on the violin. Ricardo plays a refined instrument and he is one of the best musicians out there lately.