Paulo Braga

Origin

Guarani, MG

Also known as

Paulinho Braga

Years Active

1960s

Genres

MPB, jazz, brazilian instrumental music, bossa nova

Instruments

drums, piano

Biography

Paulo Braga, also known as Paulinho Braga, is an acclaimed Brazilian drummer, composer, and arranger born in Guarani, Minas Gerais, on November 24, 1942. He is widely considered one of the fathers of modern Brazilian drumming and an innovator in the genre, known for his ability to incorporate samba school influences into jazz. His career, spanning from the 1960s, has led him to record and perform with countless icons of Brazilian and international music.

Throughout his career, Braga has been a member of important groups such as Berimbau Trio, alongside Milton Nascimento and Wagner Tiso, and accompanied the iconic singer Elis Regina in the 1970s, a period when he brought a unique sound, blending traditional samba with jazz, soul, and funk influences. His collaboration with Tom Jobim, which began in 1974, was particularly striking; he recorded and toured with him for 15 years, participating in fundamental albums such as "Elis & Tom". His versatility has led him to record with a vast range of artists, including Tim Maia, Milton Nascimento, Djavan, Ivan Lins, Simone, and many others.

In 1995, Paulo Braga moved to New York, where he expanded his work in the international jazz-pop scene, recording with renowned musicians like Joe Henderson, Pat Metheny, and David Sanborn. He returned to Brazil in 2007 and continued his work with the Jobim Trio, releasing the award-winning album "Novas Bossas" with Milton Nascimento. In addition to his career as an instrumentalist, Braga also stands out as an educator, having created and coordinated the Popular Music Department at the Tatuí Conservatory and worked as a professor at institutions such as UNICAMP and EMESP Tom Jobim. His influence also extends to curating musical events and researching the piano in jazz and MPB.

Discography

• Arrigo Barnabé e Paulo Braga, Ao Vivo, em Porto (2004)
• Muita Hora Nessa Calma (2010)
• Lupa Santiago e Paulo Braga – N101 (2014)
• Lupa Santiago e Paulo Braga – Manhã (2015)
• Farol - Paulo Braga Piano Trio (2023)
• Chiaroscuro - Waltzes by Arrigo Barnabé (2025)