Gilson Peranzzetta
- Origin
- Rio de Janeiro, RJ
- Years active
- 1964
- Genres
- mpb, jazz, bossa nova, choro, samba
- Instruments
- piano, accordion
Biography
Gilson Peranzzetta, born April 21, 1946, in Rio de Janeiro, is a highly acclaimed Brazilian pianist, composer, conductor, and arranger. He comes from a musical family, with his mother playing the bandolim, and his grandfather and uncle playing the violão. Peranzzetta began his musical studies at age nine with the accordion, switching to the piano a year later. He furthered his education at the National School of Music and the Brazilian Conservatory of Music in Rio de Janeiro. His professional career commenced in 1964, accompanying a wide array of Brazilian artists such as Elizeth Cardoso, Gal Costa, Edu Lobo, and Ivan Lins, with whom he collaborated for ten years as an arranger, musical director, and producer.
Peranzzetta's talent has been recognized globally, with producer Quincy Jones hailing him as one of the world's finest arrangers. He has received multiple awards, including three Sharp Music Awards for best arranger, composer, and performer. Since 1995, he has released over 33 solo albums and has contributed to hundreds of albums by other artists as a pianist, producer, and arranger. His compositions have been recorded by numerous Brazilian and international artists, including George Benson, Sarah Vaughan, and Barbra Streisand. His notable compositions include "Setembro," co-written with Ivan Lins, which was featured in the soundtrack of the popular American series Dallas, and various film and television scores. He has also collaborated extensively with saxophonist and flutist Mauro Senise, forming a duo that has produced several acclaimed albums. Peranzzetta continues to perform, teach, and compose, solidifying his status as a significant figure in contemporary Brazilian music.