Rogério Botter Maio

Origin

Assis, SP

Years active

1980s

Genres

jazz, brazilian jazz, mpb, instrumental music

Instruments

acoustic bass, electric bass, flute

Biography

Rogério Botter Maio is a highly accomplished Brazilian bassist, composer, arranger, and music producer, born on September 9, 1965, in Assis, São Paulo. His extensive career, spanning over four decades, includes 17 years spent working and performing in Europe and the United States. Maio's formal musical education began at the Faculty of Music at UNICAMP and continued with studies in classical music and jazz at the Hochschule für Musik in Graz, Austria. He further honed his skills at Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, after receiving a scholarship.

Maio's international career took flight in the late 1980s and early 1990s. While living in Europe, he worked as a musical assistant to singer Sheila Jordan, was part of the big band Tangavan, and founded the Jazz Via Brasil Group. In 1989, while in Rome, he even appeared as a bassist in the soundtrack of the film "The Godfather III." His time in New York from 1992 to 1997 was marked by collaborations with renowned artists such as Paquito d'Rivera, Lionel Hampton, Cláudio Roditi, and Manfredo Fest. He also recorded with Gerry Mulligan and Jane Duboc during this period.

Upon returning to Brazil, Rogério Botter Maio continued to be a significant force in the Brazilian music scene. He became a member of the Nelson Ayres Trio and collaborated with numerous other Brazilian artists, including Ná Ozzetti, Duofel, and Hector Costita. His own discography as a leader includes albums like "Crescendo" (1996), "Aprendiz" (2000), and "Sobre o Silêncio" (2012), the latter receiving a nomination for the Brazilian Music Award. Maio is also recognized for his dedication to promoting Brazilian music, conducting workshops on the subject internationally for over 25 years. He continues to be an active producer and performer, currently working on his eighth album.