Mauro Senise, a flutist/saxophonist, was a major attraction at the Free Jazz Festivals and the Chivas Jazz Festivals. He was also applauded for being a Cama de Gato member. He is the best example of Brazilian instrumental music’s success. Senise, grandson of philosopher Alceu amoroso Lima, was born May 1950 in Rio de Janeiro. His career began in the 70’s. Mauro studied classical flute with Odette ErnestDias and saxophone under Paulo Moura. These are two masters that Mauro regards as essential for his career. He recorded and played with many other great masters like Wagner Tiso, Egberto Gismonti, Hermeto Pascoal and Luis Eca for many years. He recorded with some of the most prominent names in Popular Brazilian Music. His goal was to be a soloist. At the start of his career, Senise was part of Mandengo with Tomas Improta and Raul Mascarenhas. He later made two records with Grupo Um (Lelo Nazario Ze Eduardo Nazario, Zeca Assumpcao) as a special guest. Alquimia was founded by him, Robertinho Silva, Zeca Assumpcao and Andre Delquech. He was part of the Rio Jazz Orquestra between 1974 and 1978. Throughout his career, Mauro Senise has played with some of the greatest representatives of Brazilian instrumental music, among whom are Robertinho Silva, Romero Lubambo, Nilson Matta, Luiz Alves, Hugo Fattoruso, Nene, Osmar Milito, Antonio Adolfo, Marinho Boffa, Toninho Horta, Victor Assis Brasil, Rui Quaresma, Cristovao Bastos, Helvius Vilela, Wanderley Pereira, Alberto Chimelli, Nelson Faria, Ricardo Costa, Andre Tandeta, Bruce Henry, Eloir de Moraes, Nelson Ayres, Marcio Montarroyos, Fernando Moraes, Dario Galante, Idriss Boudriouha, Vittor Santos, Maurticio Einhorn, Marcelo Martins, Nivaldo Ornellas, Marcos Nimrichter, Ivan Conti, Paulinho Trumpete, Paulo Russo, Itamar Assiere, Jota Moraes, Arthur Maia, Rique Pantoja, Alberto Continentino, Pascoal Meirelles, Mingo Araujo, Andre Neiva e Gilson Peranzetta. He was awarded the Playboy trophy as well as the Brahma Extra De Revelacao Instrumental Award (Instrumental Revelation), for his entire works. He performed in Europe with Egberto Gismonti, as well as in Spain, France and Belgium with Cama De Gato. This group has released six CDs. Rosana Lanzelotte (harpsichord), David Chew (cello) and Mauro form a trio of classical musicians that performs pieces by Bach and Tellemann. Mauro released his first solo album, Mauro Senise in 1988. Jade was released the next year. He launched two additional CDs, Uma Parte de Nos (in partnership with Gilson Peranzzetta), as a pianist, composer, and arranger. 1995 saw Mauro record in New York with Romero Lubambo (excellent guitarist and electric guitar player). The album features Brazilian standards and Nilson Mata compositions. Senise recorded the CD Pressao Alta in 1995 with Raul Mascarenhas, a saxophonist. It was released in January 1997. Mauro, who performed alongside Raul at the 12th Free Jazz Festival in October 1995, received warm praises from both the critics as well as the general public. The group released its sixth CD, Agua de Chuva, after the participation of Cama de Galto in Aruba Festival. He was invited to Finland’s Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in August 1998. There he performed solo pieces by Villa-Lobos and Radames Gnatalli. He released Virtuoso, his seventh solo CD in May 1999. He launched the CD Quinteto pixinguinha in August 2000. This was a CD he created with Kim Ribeiro, flutist. He was also invited to perform as a soloist in the Projeto Aquarius with the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra in a concert that drew over 20 000 people at the Copacabana Fortress. Mauro has performed solo in eight Projeto Aquarius shows. These included the George Martin and the Beatles’ Music concerts with the producer and arranger for all the records from the Liverpool quartet. The show attracted over 100 000 people to the Quinta da Boa Vista. sENISE participated in the Rio International Cello Encounter for six years as a soloist. This event reunites the top international and national instrumentalists. In June 2000, Mauro was the opening act for the 53o Congresso Internacional de Journalism (53rd International Congress of Journalism), which brought more than 3000 journalists from around the globe to Rio de Janeiro. It was the first Latin American congress of this type. Senise and his quartet launched Dancando nas Nuvens in June 2001. They were met with great enthusiasm by critics. The Mistura Fina was unable to host the launch of this CD due to the overwhelming response. In June that year, the Mauro Senise Quartet, together with other major jazz musicians, was invited to the 2nd Chivas Jazz Festival in Rio and Sao Paulo. Reviews praised the Mauro senise Quartet as one of the highlights. Senise, Romero Lubambo and Nilson Matta performed in New York on October 2001. He performed in Rio with Trio da Paz and American pianist Kenny Barron. In April 2002, Mauro released Venus, a solo CD that reunites Brazilian compositions which have named women and were written by some of the most prominent names in Brazilian music (Tom Jobim and Edu Lobo as well as Dorival Caymmi and Gilson Peranzzetta and Pixinguinha, Ari Barroso and others). Venus is the culmination of Mauro Senise’s phonographic career. It features arrangements by Gilson Peranzzetta and Roberto Araujo as well as Jota Moraes and Vittor Santos. Mauro was a performer at the Lincoln Center in New York in The Music by Pixinguinha. He was directed by Romero Lubambo and included Nilson Matta and Duduka da Foseca, Sergio Brandao, Cyro Baptista and Cyro. Paula Robison, a prominent American classical flutist, also participated. The show was a success, with a full house and positive reviews in American publications. Senise released the CD Frente a Frente in 2003. This was the third album of his duet with Gilson Peanzzetta. He performed with Cama De Gato in Quito (Equador) for two thousand people at the National Theatre. Tempo Caboclo was released in 2005. It features music by Brazilian classic composers such as Villa-Lobos and Guerra-Peixe. Tempo Caboclo was awarded the Latin Grammy 2006 in Classical Music. He also released “Extra de Varios”, a CD with guitarist Gilson Peranzzetta, and cellist David Chew. He also toured Europe in the same year with Cama de Gato (a quintet he and Pascoal meirelles founded). They performed at the Jazz at Juan in France, as well as at Malta Jazz Festival on Malta Island. Mauro released his new CD “Casa Forte – Mauro Senisetoca Edu Lobo” in 2006, as his carrier turned 35. Gilson Peranzzetta composed the arrangements. Edu Lobo makes a special feature in “Cancao do Amanhecer”. Senise released the DVD “Casa Forte – Mauro Senisetoca Edu Lobo” in 2007. It was recorded at Sala Cecila Meireles in Rio. He releases “Extase” in 2008, his fourth CD with the pianist and composer Gilson Peruanzzetta. Senise also releases “Caixa De Musica” (“Music Box”) in the same year. This CD was recorded with Kiko Continentino, pianist, and guitarist Leonardo Amuedo. Mauro’s solo album “Lua Cheia”, a CD he released at Biscoito Fino in May 2009, features compositions by Dolores Duran, Sueli Costa and Gilson Peranzzetta. This CD was also awarded the Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental album in the same year. Mauro’s “Melodia Sentimental” is released in December 2009 with Gilson Peranzzetta, and Silvia Braga, harpist. Senise, celebrating 20 years of partnership in 2010 with Peranzzetta releases “Linha de Passe”, which features Brazilian standards. From discogs
