Guga Stroeter

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years active

1978

Genres

mpb, jazz, salsa, samba, pagode

Instruments

vibrafone, bateria

Biography

Gustavo Cerqueira Stroeter, better known as Guga Stroeter, was born in São Paulo on October 15, 1960. He is a musician, producer, and musical director with a multifaceted career spanning jazz, MPB, salsa, and Brazilian rhythms. His professional career began to gain prominence in the 1980s when he participated in the founding of the quintet Nouvelle Cuisine, a group noted for its reinterpretations of jazz standards and, later, for incorporating Brazilian compositions into its repertoire. The group released several albums and received the APCA award in 1996.

Alongside saxophonist George Freire, Stroeter founded the Orquestra HB, formerly known as Heartbreakers, in 1988. This big band became known for exploring the work of composers such as George Gershwin and Duke Ellington, as well as blending salsa, jazz, and MPB in its performances. Orquestra HB has performed on major stages and festivals, such as Sala São Paulo and the Barbados Jazz Festival, and has collaborated with artists like Graça Cunha.

In addition to his work as a musician and orchestra leader, Guga Stroeter has also worked as a producer and musical director, collaborating with various renowned artists of Brazilian music, including Caetano Veloso and Rita Lee. In 2021, his album "Nei Lopes, Projeto Coisa Fina e Guga Stroeter no Pagode Black Tie" received a Latin Grammy nomination in the best samba/pagode album category. Stroeter also dedicates himself to literature, writing articles, plays, and novels.