Born in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, Alessandro Penezzi is one of the great virtuosos of Brazilian guitar. By the age of 14, Alessandro had already memorized 400 choros! Today, he is recognized as one of the reference points for choro, and is an active performer and composer, touring regularly in North and South America, Europe, Asia and North Africa.
He received a degree in popular music from Unicamp with a specialization in creative processes from Faculdade Souza Lima. Penezzi is also in-demand as a teacher, presenting courses, workshops and seminars at various music festivals in Brazil and abroad. In addition to playing 7-string guitar, he also plays tenor guitar, cavaquinho, mandolin and flute.
He has recorded with Dominguinhos, Hermeto Pascoal, Yamandú Costa, Zimbo Trio, Beth Carvalho, Jazz Sinfônica de São Paulo and the London Symphony and his compositions have been recorded by Yamandú Costa, Danilo Brito and Jane Lenoir, among others.
Awards and nominations include Best Instrumental CD and Best Soloist for the album ‘Quebranto’, which was released in partnership with Yamandú Costa in 2017. Brazilian awards and nominations include: Visa MPB Instrumental (2001), Tim de Música Brasileira (2006), Shell de Teatro and Prêmio da Música Brasileira (2006). Here he is with another artist on the Choro Camp faculty this year, Fábio Peron, playing one of his own compositions, “Cordas ao Vento.”