Humberto Clayber

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years Active

1945

Genres

bossa nova, samba-jazz, jazz, blues

Instruments

double bass, harmonica, chromatic harmonica

Biography

Humberto Clayber de Souza, artistically known as Clayber de Souza, was born in São Paulo on September 25, 1937. He began his musical journey in childhood at the age of eight, participating in radio programs and performing professionally in shows. Throughout the 1950s, he worked as a promoter for Hering, helping to popularize the harmonica in the state of São Paulo.

In the 1960s, he established himself as one of the leading bassists of the samba-jazz and bossa nova movements. He was a member of important formations of the era, such as Sambalanço Trio alongside César Camargo Mariano and Airto Moreira, in addition to performing with the Manfredo Fest Trio, Sambrasa Trio with Hermeto Pascoal, Sambossa 5, and Jongo Trio. Throughout his career, he collaborated with major names in Brazilian music such as Dick Farney, Claudette Soares, and Geraldo Vandré, as well as participating in notable recordings with Elis Regina.

Over the years, Clayber directed his artistic focus exclusively toward the chromatic harmonica, becoming one of the greatest harmonica players in the world and a pioneer in distance learning for the instrument in Brazil. Internationally recognized for his technical skill, he came to master dozens of types of harmonicas and expanded his work into composition across various genres, ranging from jazz and blues to waltz and tango.