Abel Borges, originally from Belo Horizonte, is a percussionist, composer, guitarist and arranger who performs Brazilian popular music with a focus on samba and choro. As a child, he studied music at the State University of Minas Gerais (UEMG). He then entered CEFAR – Centro de Formação Artística do Palácio das Artes, where he continued his studies and participated in their choro and percussion ensembles. While studying percussion with the Cuban master Santiago Heiter, he was able to make a deep dive into the language of Latin music. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in Popular Music at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in 2011.
In 2021, he was nominated as a semifinalist for the BDMG instrumental awards and also released his first original album, entitled ‘Alafiá’. This project showcases how Indigenous, African and Latin American styles have combined to influence his personal musical identity. He plays on the latest album produced by Marku Ribas, entitled ‘Mais Samba’ and his newest original album is scheduled for release in early 2025.
Abel is a founding member of Toca de Tatu, an award-winning ensemble created in 2010. This group has participated in Brazilian festivals including Savassi, Rio Montreux and Estúdio 66, as well as international festivals such as the Paris Choro Festival, where they performed in 2013, 2014 and 2024. Toca de Tatu has performed and recorded with Léa Freire, Nailor Proveta, Sérgio Santos, Cristóvão Bastos, Zé Nogueira and the Ouro Preto Orchestra.
Additionally, Abel has been a luthier for over ten years, restoring, maintaining and constructing string instruments. His workshop, located in Belo Horizonte, is visited by artists from Brazil and beyond.