Marcio Montarroyos

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years Active

1968–2007

Genres

jazz, instrumental music, MPB

Instruments

trumpet, piano

Biography

Márcio Montarroyos was a prominent Brazilian musician and virtuoso trumpeter born in Rio de Janeiro. Music was an integral part of his upbringing, as he began playing the piano at the age of four under his mother's guidance and later discovered his passion for the trumpet while performing in the student band at the Colégio Militar do Rio de Janeiro. Throughout his illustrious career, he collaborated with legendary figures of Brazilian and international music such as Tom Jobim and Milton Nascimento, establishing himself as a vital force in instrumental music.

In the late 1960s, he joined the ensemble A Turma da Pilantragem, recording several albums before furthering his studies in jazz at the renowned Berklee College of Music in the United States. Upon returning to Brazil, Montarroyos became a sought-after session musician, performing widely and contributing his distinctive horn arrangements to hundreds of recordings by top MPB artists. He also composed numerous film and television soundtracks, including works for the miniseries A Máfia no Brasil and feature films like Orfeu.

As a recording artist, he released acclaimed albums such as Carioca and Terra Mater, frequently blending jazz sensibilities with rich Brazilian rhythms. He remained active in the music scene until his passing in 2007, leaving behind a legacy as one of the country's greatest brass players. A tribute show organized by close friends and peers, including Edu Lobo and João Donato, celebrated his profound impact on Brazilian culture shortly before his death.

Discography

• Marcio Montarroyos e Orquestra – Sessão Nostalgia (1973)
• Marcio Montarroyos / Stone Alliance (1977)
• Stone Alliance (1977)
• Magic Moment (1982)
• Carioca (1983)
• Terra Mater (1989)
• Nivaldo Ornelas, Nelson Ayres (2), Marcio Montarroyos, Toninho Horta – Concerto Planeta Terra (1990)
• The Congado Celebration (1995)
• Wagner Tiso, Rio Cello Ensemble, Marcio Montarroyos, Nico Assumpção – Ao Vivo (1995)
• O Rio e o Mar (2009)
• Congado também Capoeira: Music from Northern Brazil (2011)
• Jon Hiseman Feat. Marcio Montarroyos – A Night In The Sun - Recorded In Rio de Janeiro (2012)
• Libra Rising (2018)
• Live in Rio de Janeiro (Live at Espaço Bis) (2021)
• Um Dia, um Sonho (2025)