Ricardo Herz has reinvented the violin. With unparalleled originality, charm and swing, he has captured the irrepressible spirit of Brazil and revolutionized the voice of the violin in popular music.
Ricardo Herz Trio has rhythm, originality, strength, and swing in its DNA. Presenting a renewed repertoire of unpublished original compositions, which the trio will record on their new album, ‘Dreaming Brazil’, scheduled for release in July 2024, along with some of the most remarkable songs from their previous works (“Torcendo a Terra” 2017 and “Aqui é o Meu Lá” 2011), the trio is in full swing with a new lineup: in addition to Herz (violin) and Pedro Ito (percussion and drums), the group now includes Fabio Leandro (piano). The Trio has been featured in international jazz and world music festivals, and performed as soloists with a number of orchestras.
Herz is a reference in Brazilian popular violin. His technique brings to the instrument the breath of the accordion, the growl of the rabeca, and the beautiful melodies of traditional and modern choro. Influenced by artists such as Dominguinhos, Luiz Gonzaga, Egberto Gismonti, and Jacob do Bandolim, the violinist blends Brazilian and African rhythms with the improvisation of jazz. With experiences in Boston (USA) and Paris (France), he has taken his music to all corners of the globe: he has been featured in festivals and jazz clubs in Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Macedonia, Russia, Israel, France, England, Ireland, Germany, Bolivia, Denmark, among others. In his solo career, he has recorded albums and participated in projects with artists such as Yamandu Costa, Dominguinhos, Nelson Ayres, Proveta, Jazz Sinfônica Orchestra, and João Pessoa Symphony Orchestra.
The Trio has also performed on the most important stages in Brazil as a soloist with orchestras such as the Municipal Orchestra of João Pessoa, Municipal Orchestra of Jundiaí, Experimental Orchestra of Ourinhos and the Orchestra of the State of Mato Grosso. In addition to the Brazilian stages, Ricardo Herz Trio has performed on tours in several countries such as France, England, Ireland, Germany, Bolivia, Israel, among others.
Ricardo Herz has reinvented the violin. With unparalleled originality, charm and swing, he has captured the irrepressible spirit of Brazil and revolutionized the voice of the violin in popular music. Herz is a graduate in classical violin from the Universidade de São Paulo, having laid his musical foundation at the Fukuda School in São Paulo beginning at age 6. Since then, he has studied at the renowned Berklee College of Music (USA) and at the Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood, school of the legendary French jazz violinist.
Since returning to Brazil in 2010, Herz has performed in musical collaborations with many of the most important musicians in Brazil, and as a soloist with a wide variety of orchestras, such as with Yamandú Costa, Dominguinhos, Nelson Ayres, Proveta, Orquestra Jazz Sinfônica, Orquestra Sinfônica de João Pessoa, Orquestra Municipal de Jundiaí, Projeto Guri, Orquestra Filarmônica de Violas, and Orquestra Breusil.
With his Ricardo Herz Trio, he has recorded two albums, “Aqui é o meu lá” and “Torcendo a Terra.” He has also recorded a number of duo albums: with vibraphonist/composer Antonio Loureiro, accordionist Samuca do Acordeon, pianist/arranger/conductor Nelson Ayres, and, most recently, virtuoso guitarist Yamandú Costa. He has also released an album of children’s music, and performed this repertoire with the Cantilena Ensemble.
“…the album seriously competes as one of the best Brazilian instrumental releases of the year.
Irineu Franco Perpétuo – Guia da Folha – Folha de São Paulo – July 28, 2012
“Full of sensibility and virtuosity, swing and lyricism, Ricardo Herz is leading the charge in making Brazilian violin history! Everything with lots of musicality, and the strongest mark of his personality when he goes onstage: charm! Darling of the public and critics!”
Hamilton de Holanda (10-string mandolin virtuoso)
“Ricardo is one of best players lately, plays for real. It’s a great incentive for Brazilian music, even more because, in addition to being a great musician, he has a unique ‘sauce’ while playing forró on the violin.”
Dominguinhos (legendary forró accordionist)
“Violino Popular Brasileiro [Brazilian Popular Violin] is a more-than-perfect title for the CD by Ricardo Herz. With refined technique, he passes through baião, forró –sometimes as if he were playing the rabeca [a folkloric Brazilian fiddle]–, sambas, chorinhos & canções— with authority and absolute intimacy from someone who, indeed, knows Brazil.”
Edu Lobo (legendary Brazilian composer)
“One of the most inspired releases on the instrumental music scene this year.”
Eduardo Tristão Girão – Estado de Minas – July 27, 2012
“It’s frightening that the rich Brazilian music universe has generated so few great specialists in the violin, a versatile instrument so central to western history. It’s also frightening, on the other hand, without this long tradition on its back, that here in São Paulo emerged one of the world’s greatest popular music violinists, Ricardo Herz.”
André Domingues – Diário do Comércio – São Paulo – June 26, 2012