Virtuosic, brilliant and unique – those are some of the adjectives used to describe this musician who sets world audiences ablaze, developing a career studded with awards.
Hamilton de Holanda uses the past 14 years to establish a technique for reinventing the 10 string Mandolin. He compose 24 Caprices for the mandolin and disentangled this emblematic Brazilian instrument from the legacy of some of its influences and styles, to make it a global instrument. In the US, the press soon dubbed him the “Jimi Hendrix of bandolim”.
At the age of 38, 33 years as a professional musician, de Holanda has evolved a characteristic way of playing, a character. His phrasing, the extra strings and his powerful sound, combined to the speed of the solo passages and improvisations, are inspiring a new generation and a new sound.
His trajectory includes the double Best Instrumentalist Awards (unanimously), in the two categories of academic music and popular music, of the single edition of the Icatu Hartford of Arts in 2001. This prize enabled him to live one year in Paris; this gave international wings to his musical work. In January 2005 at Midem (the main music trade show in the world), he performed the launching concert of the Year of Brazil in France, and his CD, 1 byte 10 strings, the first 10-string solo bandolier album ever – receive the notable distinction of [musical]“Choc” from Europe’s premier musical periodical Le Monde de la Musique. Hamilton was affectionately dubbed “Prince of Bandolim” in the French press, and “King” in the Brazilian press (Revista Bravo). Such figures as Ivan Lins, Hermeto Pascoal, Maria Bethânia, Djavan and João Bosco consider him as “one of the best musicians in the world”.
Hamilton appears in various major events and festivals in Brazil and internationally. He has recorded or shared stages with Egberto Gismonti, Hermeto Pascoal, Milton Nascimento, Chucho Valdes, Wynton Marsalis, Chic Corea, Buena Vista Social Club, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Djavan, Cesaria Evora, Melody Gardot, Richard Galliano, Stefano Bollani, Seu Jorge, Ivan Lins, Paquito d`rivera…and has 26 albums in his discography.
With a splendid technique and absolute “brasilian-ness“, onstage or in the studio, Hamilton combines dazzling playing and performance filled with emotion. He is utterly versatile, and feels at ease in any type of line-up: solo, with an orchestra, duet, power trio, quintet.
Contact Info
Management | Marcos Portinari: + 55 21 992478157
Discography | Hamilton de Holanda on AllMusic.com