Ruy Quaresma

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Genres

samba, MPB

Instruments

acoustic guitar, multi-instrumentalist

Biography

Ruy Souto Maior Quaresma (1952-2021) was a renowned Brazilian acoustic guitarist, composer, arranger, conductor, music producer, and multi-instrumentalist, with a career deeply intertwined with Brazilian Popular Music (MPB), especially samba.

From an early age, Quaresma demonstrated musical aptitude, learning classical guitar and music theory with renowned teachers. His training expanded with studies in harmony, counterpoint, orchestration, and conducting, under the tutelage of masters like Radamés Gnatalli and Paulo Moura. This solid foundation allowed him to work on several prominent projects, joining groups such as the Johnny Alf Sextet, the Paulo Moura Orchestra, and the A Fina Flor do Samba group, which accompanied Beth Carvalho. His versatility led him to collaborate with artists like Martinho da Vila and Nei Lopes, in addition to working on recordings, festivals, and international shows in countries such as Spain, Portugal, France, and Japan.

As a composer and arranger, Ruy Quaresma left a significant legacy. He was responsible for arrangements for the TV Globo and Rádio MEC orchestras, in addition to having participated in soundtracks for films such as "A Lira do Delírio". In 2002, he founded the Fina Flor record label, which became an important label for the production and release of CDs by various artists. His original work, built in partnerships with names like Martinho da Vila and Nei Lopes, and his award-winning arrangements, such as the one for Walter Alfaiate's CD "Samba na medida", solidified his position as one of the great names in Brazilian music.

Discography

• Em Torno de Villa-Lobos (2015)
• Live in Denmark 1999 (2019)
• Odette Ernest Dias, Andrea Ernest Dias, Ruy Quaresma, Raimundo Nicioli – Em Torno de Villa-Lobos