Zé Gomes

Origin

Ijuí, RS

Also known as

José Gomes Sobrinho, José Kruel Gomes, José Bonifácio Kruel Gomes

Years Active

1949–2009

Genres

regional music, bossa nova, instrumental music, roots music, brazilian popular music

Instruments

guitar, viola de cocho, rabeca, violin

Biography

José Kruel Gomes, known artistically as Zé Gomes, was a Brazilian musician, composer, arranger, luthier, conductor, and researcher, born in Ijuí, Rio Grande do Sul, on June 24, 1935. He began his professional career at age 14 and, at 17, moved to Porto Alegre, where he joined the Gaucho Traditionalist Movement, participating in groups such as "Tropeiros da Tradição" and "Os Gaudérios." His musical background ranged from avant-garde regionalism to bossa nova, having worked with names like João Gilberto and Luis Bonfá.

Throughout his career, Zé Gomes taught guitar, founded the Free Music Seminar (Selim), and became a professor at the UFRGS School of Arts. He moved to São Paulo in the 1970s, where he expanded his work into theater compositions, film soundtracks, sacred music, and instrumental pieces. His research and passion for instruments like the rabeca and the viola de cocho led him to explore Brazilian roots music, especially from the Midwest and Southeast.

Zé Gomes participated in more than 200 recordings alongside various renowned artists, including Chico Buarque, Heraldo do Monte, and Renato Teixeira. His work is marked by versatility and a deep connection with Brazilian culture, exploring everything from gaucho folklore to contemporary sounds. He passed away on June 5, 2009, in São Paulo, leaving a significant legacy in Brazilian instrumental and popular music.

Discography

• Volta Bebê (2021)
• Palavra Amiga, Vol. 4 (2021)
• Não Sou Pedofilo, Vol. 3 (2021)
• Não Consigo Lhe Esquecer, Vol. 2 (2021)
• Explosão do Amor, Vol. 01 (2021)