Toomai String Quintet's New Album, "Passos Brasileiros"

The album pays homage to Brazil's rich musical legacy featuring original arrangements of popular songs

The Toomai String Quintet has released their second album, Passos Brasileiros. The quintet comprises violinists Emilie-Anne Gendron and Alex Fortes, violist George Meyer, cellist Hamilton Berry, and bassist Andrew Roitstein.

The album includes arrangements of songs by Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, and Dona Ivone Lara (the “First Lady of Samba”); jazz-influenced works by Hermeto Pascoal and Léa Freire; and classical selections by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Chiquinha Gonzaga, and Paulinho Nogueira.

With 13 tracks, the album showcases the ability of string instruments to capture the essence of several beloved Brazilian traditions: choro, samba, Brazilian jazz, classical music, and Música Popular Brasileira (MPB).

To purchase and listen to the album, click here.

Listen to Garrote from the album below

Formed in 2007, the Toomai String Quintet is devoted to playing a variety of musical traditions from around the world, commissioning new works and creating original string arrangements. They have commissioned and arranged over 20 works by Latin American composers and continue their mission to expand Latin American repertoire for string ensembles.