Afonso Machado

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Also known as

Afonso Dodsworth Machado

Years Active

1975

Genres

choro, bossa nova, MPB

Instruments

mandolin, guitar, cavaquinho, percussion

Biography

Afonso Machado is a distinguished Brazilian mandolin player, composer, and arranger, born in Rio de Janeiro on May 3, 1954. His musical journey began in a home filled with choro music, influenced by his father, Raul Dodsworth Machado, a scientist and guitarist who hosted musical gatherings. Machado honed his skills on the mandolin, an instrument that once belonged to his great-aunt, and furthered his studies with Elpídio Faria. He also holds a degree in Journalism.

Machado is a pivotal figure in the Brazilian choro scene. He founded the choro ensemble Galo Preto in 1975, an ensemble that has maintained a significant presence for decades, touring extensively within Brazil and internationally. He was also instrumental in founding the Brazilian String Orchestra and the Swedish Quartet. His pedagogical contributions include the "Brazilian Mandolin Method," published in 1986, which is considered a pioneering work in the genre, and the book "Na cadência do choro" (2006).

Throughout his career, Afonso Machado has collaborated with a remarkable array of Brazilian musical luminaries. He has accompanied and recorded with iconic artists such as Cartola, Radamés Gnattali, Elton Medeiros, Nelson Cavaquinho, Raphael Rabello, and Hermeto Pascoal. His performances as a soloist with various Brazilian orchestras further highlight his versatility and mastery of the mandolin. Machado's work continues to be celebrated, with his compositions and arrangements enriching the landscape of Brazilian popular music.

Discography

• Afonso Machado & Bartholomeu Wiese – Bandolim & Violão (1997)
• Bandolim do Brasil (2004)
• Clarisse Grova, Afonso Machado – Que Tal? (2012)
• Afonso Machado, Ruy Faria, Tiago Machado (4), Chico Faria – Bate Bola (2013)
• Garçom, Mais Dois! (2019)