Paulo Moura

Origin

São José do Rio Preto, SP

Years Active

1956–2010

Genres

choro, samba, jazz, instrumental music

Instruments

clarinet, saxophone

Biography

Paulo Moura was an acclaimed Brazilian clarinetist, saxophonist, arranger, conductor, and composer whose unique style gracefully bridged traditional forms like choro and samba with jazz, carimbó, and classical music. Born in São José do Rio Preto, he built a versatile career performing in duos, trios, quartets, and orchestras, taking his distinct sound to major international venues such as the Berlin International Jazz Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival. His exceptional artistry earned him widespread recognition, including winning the inaugural Latin Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album category in 2000 for his work on the album Pixinguinha with Paulo Moura e os Batutas.

Throughout his decades-long career, Moura collaborated with an extraordinary array of musical icons, blending genres and pushing the boundaries of instrumental Brazilian music. He worked closely with legendary figures such as Pixinguinha, Radamés Gnattali, Tom Jobim, and Wagner Tiso, recording notable collaborative projects that highlighted his profound technical skill and interpretive depth. His legacy remains deeply embedded in the history of Brazilian instrumental music, celebrated for elevating the clarinet and saxophone to prominent roles across diverse musical landscapes.

Discography

• Escolha... e Dance com Paulo Moura e Sua Orquestra de Dança (1958)
• Sweet Sax (1958)
• Paulo Moura Interpreta Radamés Gnattali (1959)
• Blazing Brilliance From Brazil (1972)
• Confusão Urbana, Suburbana e Rural (1976)
• Altamiro Carrilho, Abel Ferreira, Formiga e Paulo Moura com a Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira , Regente Júlio Medaglia – Interpretam Vivaldi, Weber, Purcell e Villa-Lobos (1977)
• Os Cameristas (1977)
• Waldir Azevedo, Zé da Velha, Abel Ferreira, Paulo Moura, Copinha, Joel Nascimento – Choro na Praça (1977)
• Heitor Villa-Lobos - Melodias Populares (1981)
• Elomar, Arthur Moreira Lima, Paulo Moura, Heraldo do Monte – ConSertão (Um Passeio Musical pelo Brasil) (1982)
• Carmen Costa Participação Especial de Paulo Moura – Benditos, Hinos e Ladainhas (1983)
• Clara Sverner e Paulo Moura (1983)
• Mistura e Manda (1984)
• Paulo Moura, Clara Sverner, Turibio Santos, Olivia Byington – Encontro (1984)
• Paulo Moura, Raphael Rabello, Jaques Morelenbaum, Zé da Velha – Brasil Instrumental - Sax, Violão, Cello & Trombone (1985)
• Clara Sverner & Paulo Moura – Vou Vivendo (1986)
• Gafieira Etc & Tal (1986)
• Clara Sverner e Paulo Moura Interpretam Pixinguinha (1988)
• O Som de Dorival Caymmi (1990)
• Paulo Moura e Ociladocê – Interpretam Dorival Caymmi (1991)
• Rio Nocturnes (1992)
• Paulo Moura & Raphael Rabello – Dois Irmãos (1992)
• Wagner Tiso / Paulo Moura – Brasil Musical (1995)
• Clara Sverner, Paulo Moura – Cinema Odeon (1996)
• Nivaldo Ornelas e Paulo Moura (1996)
• Paulo Moura & os Batutas – Pixinguinha (1997)
• Tempos Felizes (1997)
• Carimbó do Moura (1997)
• Pra Cá e pra Lá - Paulo Moura Trilha Jobim e Gershwin (1998)
• Heitor Villa-Lobos, Turibio Santos, Paulo Moura, Noel Devos, Orquestra de Câmara Brasileira, Bernardo Bessler – Concertos para Solista e Orquestra (1999)
• K-Ximblues (2002)
• Alma Rio (2002)
• Estação Leopoldina (2003)
• Paulo Moura & Yamandú Costa – El Negro Del Blanco (2004)
• João Donato e Paulo Moura – Dois Panos para Manga (2006)
• Gafieria Jazz (Ao Vivo) (2006)
• Josildo Sá & Paulo Moura – Samba de Latada (2007)
• Trio Madeira Brasil, Paulo Moura, Yamandu Costa, Zé da Velha e Silvério Pontes, Teresa Cristina e Grupo Semente, Joel Nascimento, Jorginho do Pandeiro, Marcos Suzano, Zezé Gonzaga, Maurício Carrilho, Luciana Rabello – Brasileirinho - Grandes Encontros do Choro Contemporâneo (2007)
• Hepteto (2007)
• Quarteto (2007)
• Rhapsody In Bossa, Paulo Moura Visita Gershwin & Jobim (2008)
• Pilantrocracia (2008)
• Paulo Moura & Armandinho – AfroBossaNova (2009)
• Paulo Moura e Teatro do Som – Alento (2010)
• Paulo Moura & André Sachs – Fruto Maduro (2011)
• Josildo Sá & Paulo Moura – Samba de Latada - Ao Vivo (2011)
• Fibra
• Helvius Vilela, Paulo Moura, Jerzy Milewski – Paulinho da Viola... sem Palavras...