Serenata by Mike Marshall And Jovino Santos Neto

In 1986, while still a member of Montreux, Mike founded a classical string quartet of mandolin family instruments -- two mandolins, mandola and mandocello. The Modern Mandolin Quartet released four recordings for Windham Hill Records that redefined the mandolin in a classical music setting. In 1995, the Quartet made its Carnegie Hall debut. They received a "Meet The Composer" grant from the Lila Wallace Foundation in 1996.

Meanwhile, Mike had traveled to Brazil and begun his love affair with Brazilian choro music. He embarked on an in-depth study of the style which resulted in the CD "Brasil (Duets)". This recording showcases Mike at the top of his form as a mandolinist in duet settings with many top instrumentalists such as Andy Narell, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Michael Manring and Jovino Santos Neto.

Mike has continued to push at the boundaries of acoustic instrumental music. After tapping Fleck and Meyer for the "Duets" project, he collaborated with the two masters on a 1997 Sony Classical release titled "Uncommon Ritual."

The album charted on the Billboard Top Ten Classical Chart where it remained for over three months. Mike worked with Meyer yet again on the 1999 "Short Trip Home" a another Sony Classical recording with Joshua Bell and Sam Bush.

Darol Anger has also remained an important collaborator for Mike. Together they have recorded under the moniker Psychograss with guitarist David Grier, banjo player Tony Trischka and bassist Todd Phillips. Another ensemble, The Darol Anger- Mike Marshall Band, showcases the outer reaches of the duo's improvisational skills in a jazz-inspired setting. With bassist Derek Jones and drummer Aaron Johnston, The Anger-Marshall Band released "Jam" in 1999.

Mike has two holiday recordings to his credit: In 1998, he released "Midnight Clear", a solo guitar recording. He has also recorded "A Christmas Heritage" with Alison Brown, Darol Anger, Tim O'Brien, Todd Phillips and Phil Aaberg. As New Grange, this same line-up has released an eponymous CD on Compass Records.

Currently Mike is working on further collaborations with Darol Anger, performs intermittently with Edgar Meyer and is planning a CD project with pianist Jovino Santos Neto. Mike is a creative partner in the soon-to-be launched Adventure Music label.

JOVINO SANTOS NETO BIOGRAPHY:

Jovino was born on September 18, 1954 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started playing piano at age 13, and by 16 was playing organ in a band called "The Vacancy Group" in Bangu, West Zone of Rio. Jovino got a degree in Biology, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and later from MacDonald College of McGill University in Montreal, Canada. In 1977 he joined the group led by the legendary Brazilian composer Hermeto Pascoal.

In the 15 years that followed, Jovino, along with his colleagues Carlos Malta (saxophones and flute), Itiberê Zwarg (bass), Marcio Bahia (drums), Fabio Pascoal (percussion) and Pernambuco (percussion), created an ensemble under the leadership of Hermeto, that has been considered one of the premier groups in the world. They rehearsed for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, and Hermeto, inspired by their talent and dedication, composed hundreds of themes that extend the boundaries of contemporary music. It was in this school that Jovino sharpened his talents as a pianist, flutist, composer and arranger.

The Hermeto Pascoal Group made several records, all of them co-produced by Jovino Santos Neto, and they played hundreds of concerts all over the world. In 1993, Jovino left the Group to pursue his individual career. He moved to Seattle, in the United States, and studied orchestral conducting at Cornish College of the Arts. Soon after that, he was granted resident alien status by the U.S. Government, on the basis of his extraordinary musical talent. He was invited in 1995 to join Fourth World, the group led by the Percussionist Airto Moreira and singer Flora Purim. Jovino composed, arranged, recorded and performed with Airto Moreira and Flora Purim in the United Sates, Europe, Brazil and Asia. Since then, he has been involved in a number of different projects, projects, always using his inspiration, experience and knowledge to create new and challenging music.

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