Hamilton de Holanda Trio

Described by the legendary Hermeto Pascoal as “the best mandolin player in the world,” Brazilian string genius Holanda is a fiercely melodic improviser who delivers flashing, exquisitely crafted lines on his custom-made 10-string mandolin-like bandolin.

The bandolin holds a treasured place in Brazilian music, and Hamilton de Holanda stands as its undisputed master. Making his return to Southern California, he brings a dazzling blend of lyricism and virtuosity, spinning intricate, lightning-fast lines on his custom 10-string mandolin-like instrument.

A prolific, award-winning composer, de Holanda has pushed the bandolin far beyond its roots in choro and Brazilian jazz, opening new creative possibilities through his fearless explorations. Over the past three decades, he has recorded with Brazilian guitar greats Yamandu Costa, Raphael Rabello, and Diogo Nogueira, earning multiple Latin GRAMMY nominations along the way. His collaborations extend across genres and borders, partnering with luminaries like Chick Corea, Chucho Valdés, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, esperanza spalding, Snarky Puppy, Dave Matthews, and Coldplay. Most recently, his 2024 Sony Music Brazil duo album with Rubalcaba, Collab, received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album.

For this performance, de Holanda appears with his stellar trio featuring pianist Salomão Soares—an imaginative improviser whose sound bridges classical, jazz, and the vibrant traditions of Brazil’s northeast—and drummer Thiago “Big” Rabello, who weaves the polyrhythmic intricacies of Brazilian music seamlessly into a jazz framework, driving the ensemble with irresistible energy.

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