Geraldo Vespar

• Genres: Latin
• Instrument: Guitar

Biography

A noted Brazilian guitarist/composer/arranger, Geraldo Vespar started as a professional in 1952 at Rádio Anhangüera (Goiânia, Goiás), having worked until 1963 as a guitarist in several clubs. In that year, he joined the Conjunto de Moacir Silva and recorded for the first time as a session musician, directed by Radamés Gnattali. After 1964, Vespar worked successively with Astor e sua Orquestra, Orquestra da TV Excelsior, Orquestra do Maestro Cipó, and Paul Mauriat's orchestra (as a soloist and arranger, performing in tours with the large orchestra through France, the Netherlands, Korea, Great Britain, and Japan, from 1973 to 1975). Vespar also recorded albums under the pseudonyms of Delano and Gerard (the LP I Love Paris). In 1965, he was awarded with the O Guarani award for his "Samba Nova Geração." In that decade, he worked with the Conjunto de Peter Thomas, the Conjunto de Chiquinho do Acordeom, and co-wrote (with Sílvio César) the soundtrack of the film Mineirinho, Vivo ou Morto (Aurélio Teixeira). As a jazz soloist, Vespar worked in the '70s with Maestro Cipó in a sextet. In that decade, he toured Mexico and the U.S. with Elza Soares, and in the '80s he returned to his work with Paul Mauriat's orchestra. ~ Alvaro Neder, All Music Guide