João Tostes uses The Curupira Concert to place the ukulele at the center of Brazilian instrumental music with confidence and control. Recorded live in 2018 at Instituto Curupira in Barbacena, Brazil, the live album captures 13 pieces performed in a chamber trio with ukulele (João Tostes), piano (Felipe Moreira), and bass (Diogo Fernandes). There is no percussion, which puts full focus on tone, touch, and phrasing. The result feels deliberate and personal, like an open invitation into a specific moment of artistic growth.
Tostes plays the ukulele with a level of virtuosity that challenges common expectations of the instrument. His technique allows the ukulele to function as a lead voice with real dynamic range. Fast Choro passages, flowing Baião rhythms, and lyrical Bossa Nova sections move naturally into one another. The piano and bass do not compete for attention. Instead, Moreira and Fernandes frame each piece with restraint, giving the melodies space to breathe while adding harmonic depth and subtle momentum.
The album’s strength comes from its balance of tradition and exploration. You hear clear ties to Brazilian masters such as Waldir Azevedo, Ernesto Nazareth, and Chiquinha Gonzaga, especially in the rhythmic precision and melodic structures. At the same time, Tostes approaches these forms with contemporary instincts. Jazz phrasing, extended harmony, and expressive pacing give the music a narrative quality. Listeners who appreciate the emotional focus of David Gilmour, the technical fire of Paco de Lucía, the blues-informed intensity of Gary Moore, or the introspective flow of John Frusciante will find familiar ground here, even without a guitar present.
What makes The Curupira Concert stand out is its refusal to smooth out the live experience. You hear silences, spoken moments, and the natural interaction between performer and audience. In the tracks “Alivium” and “Xote Sem Rumo,” the audience is asked to participate by clapping in the former and singing along with the chamber ensemble in the latter, creating an incredibly intimate moment between the performers and the audience. For listeners drawn to Brazilian instrumental traditions, jazz-informed chamber music, or live albums that prioritize honesty and expression, this is a rewarding and focused listen that highlights how mighty the ukulele can be in the right hands.
Connect with João Tostes:
https://found.ee/curupira
https://instagram.com/joaotostes
https://facebook.com/joaotostesuke
https://x.com/joaotostes
https://youtube.com/tocaukulele
Bio:
João Tostes is a Brazilian instrumental musician, composer, and educator whose work explores the ukulele beyond traditional genres and conventional roles. With more than 25 years of musical experience and over 15 years dedicated to the ukulele, his artistic practice integrates performance, composition, research, and pedagogy.
His work is deeply rooted in Brazilian instrumental traditions such as choro, maxixe, baião, and bossa nova, while engaging with contemporary, chamber, and jazz-influenced approaches. Rather than treating the ukulele as a novelty instrument, Tostes positions it as a central melodic voice, capable of lyrical depth, rhythmic complexity, and formal sophistication.
He holds a degree in Music and has presented academic research internationally, including papers shared in Italy, reflecting his ongoing interest in the relationship between instrumental performance, Brazilian musical heritage, and contemporary practices. He is currently a master’s student in Music at UNESP, where his research continues to inform both his artistic output and educational projects.
Alongside his solo and ensemble work, Tostes is actively involved in music education and cultural initiatives. He is the creator and conductor of Orquestra Multicor, an inclusive orchestra based in Brazil that brings together participants of different ages and backgrounds, using collective music-making as a space for learning, coexistence, and artistic expression.
Through albums, live performances, educational programs, and research activity, João Tostes develops a continuous exploration of authenticity, tradition, and presence, treating music not only as performance, but as a cultural, educational, and social practice.
