Celso Pixinga

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years active

1982

Genres

jazz, funk, instrumental, samba, mpb

Instruments

contrabaixo, baixo elétrico

Biography

Celso Claudio Cascarelli, widely known as Celso Pixinga, was born in São Paulo on July 12, 1953. A virtuoso on the four-, five-, and six-string bass, he began his musical journey by swapping the guitar for the bass, an instrument that would establish him as one of the most important names in Brazilian instrumental music, standing out for his speed and mastery of the slap technique. Throughout his career, he has released several notable albums and worked as an educator, founding and coordinating the Bass and Technology Institute at the School of Music and Technology.

In addition to his prolific solo career with groups like the PX Band and Gig, Pixinga has shared the stage and studios with major icons of national and international music, accompanying artists such as Gal Costa, Evandro Mesquita, Ângela Rô Rô, and Wanderléa. He has also taken his talent to international stages, performing at renowned festivals like the Free Jazz Festival and playing at the Blue Note in New York, in addition to collaborating with established musicians such as Dave Weckl and Gonzalo Rubalcaba.

His discography spans dozens of works that blend jazz, funk, rock, and typically Brazilian rhythms such as samba. With a career solidified by video lessons, educational publications, and intense activity in workshops, Celso Pixinga remains a fundamental reference for new generations of bass players in Brazil and abroad.