Bernardo Dantas

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Genres

samba, choro, mpb

Instruments

acoustic guitar, guitar, 7-string guitar

Biography

Bernardo Dantas is a Brazilian arranger, composer, six- and seven-string acoustic guitarist, electric guitarist, and musical producer specializing in Brazilian popular music. He is best known as a founding member of the acclaimed Grupo Semente, which played an essential role in the revival of the Lapa neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro starting in the late 1990s.

Alongside Grupo Semente, Dantas gained widespread recognition for backing renowned singer Teresa Cristina and collaborating on notable projects celebrating traditional samba and choro. His work with the group helped revitalize the local music scene, performing regularly at the iconic Bar Semente and recording several celebrated albums that paid homage to masters like Paulinho da Viola.

Throughout his career, Dantas has contributed as a versatile instrumentalist and producer to numerous releases across the Brazilian musical landscape, working alongside contemporary sambistas and instrumentalists. His dedication to the acoustic guitar and traditional Brazilian rhythms has cemented his status as a key figure in modern samba and choro revival movements.