Riccardo Crespo
WE WILL BE PERFORMING AT NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FEST 2012, ON SUNDAY APRIL 29 AT LAGNIAPPE STAGE !
Riccardo Crespo is a South Brazilian musician, singer and songwriter who plays both acoustic guitar and harmonica.
He performs as a solo artist and with his group "Sol Brasil"
Before coming to New Orleans in 1999, Riccardo enjoyed a highly successful career in Brazil.
He has performed extensively throughout Europe and the United States and returns to his homeland annually for inspiration and to enrich his musical soul.
Riccardo's original compositions are a rich but gentle mix of MPB or Musica Popular Brasileira, and contain elements of Folk, Bossa and Latin Music. The result is a beautiful blend of "World Music", that is both distinctive and passionate.
Riccardo's lyrics speak eloquently about feelings of love and relationships. Sometimes he recalls his life experiences as a "Gaucho" from Camaqua City, Riccardo´s native home in South Brazil.
In New Orleans, he has performed at some of the finest jazz clubs in the city and for many private functions throughout the year in and around the New Orleans area and every Wednesdays at Columns Hotel, uptown in New Orleans.
For the past 12 years, he has performed with his ensemble SOL BRASIL
in the annual New Orleans French Quarter Festival.
In May of 2005, Riccardo embarked on a three month summer tour of Scandinavia and Western Europe. His scheduled return to New Orleans was abruptly interrupted when Hurricane Katrina stuck on August 29th. Unable to return to the city he loved, Riccardo soon learned that all of his earthly possessions were destroyed by the storm's ravage. With a heavy heart, Riccardo extended his tour to include performances throughout England and Spain. Riccardo returned to the Crescent City in March of 2006 to restart his musical career and commit to the rebuilding process of his adopted city.
Singing in Portuguese, Riccardo knows how to connect intensively with his audience. He enjoys performing his own musical compositions as well as popular Brazilian music by Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto and others.
The music of Riccardo Crespo has left a musical imprint on the city of New Orleans, and the city remains dear to Riccardo's heart. Now more than ever, audiences can appreciate the essence of Brazil through the magic of Riccardo's music performed in traditional Brazilian style.
DISCOGRAPHY
* 1st CD - RICARDO CRESPO, released in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, 1994.
* 2nd CD - DO RIO CAMAQUA AO RIO MISSISSIPPI, released in New Orleans, LA, USA, 2000.
* 3rd CD - MILONGA OF NEW ORLEANS, released in New Orleans, LA, USA, 2008.
* 4rd CD - NANO & CONGUINHO, released in Portro Alegre, Brazil, RS, 2011.
* 5TH CD - IT WILL BE RELEASED AT FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL AND AT NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FEST 2012 !
MUSICIANS
JESSE REEKS: Piano and Accordion
TIM PACO: Bass
RICK SEBASTIEN: Drums
NETI VAAN: Violin
ANDREA GOMEZ: Cello
RICCARDO CRESPO: Guitar, Harmonica & Vocal