Zé Luiz Mazziotti

Zé Luís Mazziotti started as a musician in 1966 in the vocal group Canto 4, winning first prize at the I Festival de Música Popular Brasileira (Festival of Brazilian Popular Music, TV Record, São Paulo). Mazziotti worked initially at the Canto Terzo, opening for Johnny Alf in duo with Elodi. In that club, he came to work with Paulinho Nogueira, Vera Brasil (his teacher and musical godmother), Adilson Godoy, Alaíde Costa, and other artists. He then worked in several famous clubs of São Paulo of the 70s. In 1974, he launched the hit "Até Quem Sabe" (João Donato/Lysias Ênio), arranged by César Camargo Mariano and included in the soundtrack of the soap opera Os Inocentes (TV Tupi). In 1976, Mazziotti was invited by Ivan Lins to record "Dona Benta" on the soundtrack of the O Sítio do Pica-Pau Amarelo series from TV Globo. In the '70s, he participated in the Pixinguinha project, performing around Brazil with Elizeth Cardoso, Ângela Maria, Zezé Gonzaga, Miltinho, Jamelão, and Sílvio César, doing shows also at the Funarte hall together with Alaíde Costa, Antônio Adolfo, and Luís Eça. In 1979, Mazziotti launched his first solo LP, arranged by Dori Caymmi and Gilson Peranzzetta and with special guest Nana Caymmi. Two years later, he won the Chiquinha Gonzaga prize for his second album, the independent Sinais, as one of the ten best productions of the year. In 1982, he was invited by Gal Costa to record in duo with her Vitor Ramil's "Estrela, Estrela," on her LP Fantasia. In 1985, Mazziotti produced the LP by Pedro Paulo Castro Neves and Michel Legrand, arranged by the latter. Moving to Paris, France, to promote his last album, he was invited to participate in the Printemps de Bourges festival and in the Jazz Festival of Nice. Still living in Paris, Mazziotti participated in the 1992 Novo Festival da MPB (TV Record) in Brazil, being awarded as the Best Interpreter. In 1994, he returned to Brazil, recording his first CD, Zé Luís Mazziotti, produced by Leny Andrade, and, in the next year, he produced Cauby Peixoto's Cauby Canta Sinatra, participating also in the show Feliz Bossa Nova with Leny Andrade, Miéle, Roberto Menescal, and Wanda Sá. Since 1997, he worked in duo with Célia, having realized with her the shows Stravaganza and Ame and recorded in 2000 Pra Fugir da Saudade, dedicated to compositions by Paulinho da Viola. His incursions in the samba universe also include the recording of "Preciso Me Encontrar" (Candeia) in the tribute CD Eterna Chama/Candeia.
© Alvaro Neder /TiVo