Rubinho Barsotti

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years active

1950–2010

Genres

bossa nova, jazz, samba, instrumental Brazilian music

Instruments

drums

Biography

Rubens Alberto Barsotti, known as Rubinho Barsotti, was a pioneering Brazilian drummer and composer born in São Paulo. His journey in music began in childhood when he first encountered a drum kit, eventually developing into an entirely self-taught mastery of the instrument. He emerged as a prominent figure in the Brazilian instrumental and jazz scenes, performing and recording alongside numerous legendary musicians both from Brazil and abroad.

Throughout his prolific career, Barsotti collaborated with notable Brazilian artists such as Dick Farney, Moacir Peixoto, Pedrinho Mattar, and Elis Regina. In 1964, he co-founded the iconic Zimbo Trio alongside pianist Amilton Godói and bassist Luís Chaves, a group that would become a cornerstone of Brazilian jazz and bossa nova. His work with the trio and various other ensembles helped shape the landscape of instrumental music in Brazil, bridging the worlds of samba and jazz.

In addition to his performance career, Barsotti dedicated himself to music education, co-founding the Centro Livre de Aprendizagem Musical (CLAM) in 1973 with his Zimbo Trio bandmates. Through CLAM, he influenced generations of new Brazilian musicians. His enduring legacy remains firmly etched in the history of Brazilian popular music and instrumental jazz.