Dear friends,
Just yesterday I discovered the amazing musician Naudo Rodrigues. Here is a short bio of his I found online:
He began to play guitar at age five. He belongs to a family of musicians, but never went to any school or music conservatory. He’s an autodidact. He learned to play guitar by jamming with other musicians, and he played all musical styles. He worked with various musician groups in Recife, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro (Brasil), recording the album “Vento Norte” with the group Karetas, which was No. 1 in sales in Brasil in 1982. In 1989 he decided to cross the Atlantic Ocean with his brother, who is also a musician. They worked in Lisbon for two years, dedicating themselves to Afro-Brazilian music. In 1992 he made a tour for Spain with the orchestra Linea Continua, participating in the “Autumn Jazz” of Zamora (Castilla) where he played with saxophonist Quique Macias. Since 1993 he has been living on Tenerife Island where he works playing jazz clubs, hotels and cultural centers and participating as a guitarist in recordings for several artists. In 2002 he recorded a CD entitled “Alone with my guitar”. He is also part of the band Madeira Choro with other Spanish musicians dedicated to Brazilian music. His guitar is a semi-acoustic electric Alhambra.
The fact that he is an autodidact probably explains his most original interpretation technique: he plays non-flamenco music in spite of using a flamenco-style technique. See for yourself how he interprets Gary Moore’s superb “Still Got The Blues” ( you can listen to the original here):
His harmonizations are also absolutely superb. See his version of the Bee Gees’ “How Deep is your love” (original here):
Finally, I want to share his interpretation of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” (original here):
To me, this is what guitar music should be: not “respectable” instrument for playing “proper” music for folks with suits in conservatories, but a popular instrument for improvisation and the re-interpretation of each melody or harmony. The guitar is about *freedom* in all its expressions, not “respectability”. Baroque, Jazz, Flamenco, Rock, Blues, Manouche/Gypsy, Celtic or Indian music – you name it – the guitar can do it all and better than any other instrument (in my highly biased opinion) because the guitar reinvents herself (yes, I think of a guitar as “she”) over and over again. I don’t particularly care for the Bee Gees or Michael Jackson, but when their music is re-invented by a talented guitarist, it becomes a small masterpiece.
If you are as impressed by Naudo Rodrigues as I am, you can download his album on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Naudo-Rodrigues/dp/B00FFRCIM6/
There are also a lot of his videos on YouTube – check them out.
Enjoy!
The Saker
PS: I just came across another amazing video of Naudo Rodrigues, this time playing the (rather ugly) Bee Gees’ composition “Stayin’ Alive” (original here):
Notice how he simultaneously combines rhythm, harmony and melody and turns a rather dull composition into a superb performance!
PPS: This evening I found a bossa version of Autumn Leaves where he also improvises while playing the backing chords :-)
When somebody plays like him, so easily and spot on, the angels are surely somewhere around and listen.
Thanks for sharing !
Thank you… dont think i have seen anyone with as much freedom to deliver his musicality on the guitar ( rather than just technical pyrotechnics )…. there is legend that beethoven when he first heard the guitar exclaimed ” this instrument is a small orchestra ” .. he should have listened to rodrigues…
Great find.Thank you Saker.
Saker, you should also take a look at this musician:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael_Rabello
He was a superb brazilian acoustic guitar player. I hope you enjoy his musical talent.
Oh I know about Rabello (and his tragic life).
He was indeed one of the very bes Brazilian guitarists ever.
Kind regards,
The Saker
The more politics kills us the more I believe music can save the world.
Thank you, Saker! I can’t recall the last time some guitar music brought such a wide smile to my face (I do play a little myself). I did some digging and found out that he plays regularly at Monkey Bar Italiano in Playa de las Americas on Tenerife. I guess it is now my top prospective holidays destination! I also found what looks like his youtube channel (NAUDORDS), but it hasn’t been updated for several years now.
Best regards to all in this great Community.
Denis
Yes, in Brazil (my country), there are many kids with an enormous talent who are just wasted… Some say: ‘such is life…’ I would rather say: ‘such is imperialism…’ Why does Naudo have to go to Spain to earn a living? Because Brazil is down hill – there is no job for him or for the other talented kids, there… Brazil is being destroyed…
Naudo must be the best guitar player i have ever heard i’ve been following him for the last 10 years is he still playing in The Canaries im going over soon and i would love to see him play …Tiger
Hi everyone
Yes. I really like Naudo. He has a great style. There is also another guitarist in Tenerife who was allegedly a pupil of John Williams. His name is Martin. (Not sure of his last name but he is a very modest guy and needs a lot of persuasion to play stuff). Not sure where he plays now but he does all styles, jazz, blues, flamenco, etc. Even jams on a 12 string. Well worth checking him out.
This L.Russell Brown
I am a huge fan of the astonishing Naudo.
He has a version of one of my songs on YouTube
I am imploring him to do a few more…..
Let me list my dream Naudo mix—of melodies I have composed
The them from the movie paradise
sung by Phoebe cates
Don Diablo by Miguel Bose
and
Say has anybody seen my sweet gypsy rose
by Tony Orlando
AND
KNOCK THREE TIMES
in Spanish
Toca tres vecas…..
God Bless you Naudo for your inspirational version of Tie a yellow RIBBON..
L.Russell Brown
Como não foi reconhecido aqui
No Brasil .
Eu o conheci via yootub
Sensacional
Google translate,MOD:
As not recognized here
In Brazil .
I met him via yootub
Sensational
Wow what an amazing guy playing my favorite instrument
I totally speechless and overwhelmed with emotions cause of his music
But at the end just one simple WOW
I Agree! I find out the same expirience a few weeks ago and i’m try to find out all about Him! He have a VERY broad reportear of musik and genres that he deliver in ä masterful presentatio on asingel six string guitar! AWSAM ENDEEd!
I know i never can reach this skillun my guitarr! …but >I which I could!
AWSAM
Excuse the change of my text provided by something that have to do with unwhished spelling correction!
Repeat what I wrote:
I Agree! I find out the same experience a few weeks ago and i’m trying to find out all about Him! He have a VERY broad reportoear of musik and genres that he deliver in ä masterful presentation on a single six string guitar! AWESOME INDEED!
I know i never can reach this skill on my guitar! …but I still which I could!
AWESOME guitar player! = Mee!
I ‘m trying to find His email address which was showing in one of His clips, but so far no hits on that Anyone who knows? Thankful for tip!
A great fan!
Wonderful inspiring makes me feel inadequate
I just found Naudo on YouTube and now realize what I have been missing my whole life. His interpretation of melody and harmony as well as rythme is fantastic. Just love everything he does.
I can’t find any of his CD, as in a studio produced recordings; not on Amazon cd sale or..any other. He has an Amazon mp3 collection, but looking for better recordings… Help??
You should see him play Billy Jean on You Tube. Amazing!!!
MOD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2wEalG0kyo
27/12/2020 . In questo momentaccio della Pandemia Covid ,Grazie al Maestro Naudo , da 10 mesi ascoltandolo mi raffranca dandomi energia .,( La Chitarra e’ lo strumento x eccellenza ,infinito nei suoni ) Maestro Naudo e
le sue interpretazioni sono celestiali ., Meriterebbe il gradino piu’ ALTO e spazi nelle TV del Mondo ., Ma lui , e’il Maestro del popolo delle genti umili come il suo Brasile. Auguro al Maestro Naudo Felicita’ Serenita’ Buon Anno Nuovo 2021. Grazie Maestro . Beppe
27/12/2020. In this moment of the Covid Pandemic, Thanks to Maestro Naudo, for 10 months listening to him he strengthens me by giving me energy., (The Guitar is the instrument of excellence, infinite in its sounds) Maestro Naudo is
the interpretations of him are celestial., He deserves the HIGHEST step and spaces on TV in the world., But he is the Master of the people of humble people like his Brazil. I wish the Maestro Naudo Happiness Serenity Happy New Year 2021. Thank you Maestro. Beppe