Vinícius Gomes

Vinicius Gomes is a Brazilian jazz guitarist, composer, and first-call sideman. His sound weds Brazilian classical, jazz, and American jazz traditions to the advanced chromatics of Baden Powell, Pat Metheny, and Julian Lage. His acclaimed 2017 debut Resiliência appeared on Blaxtream, with backing from a first-rate cast that included drummer Edu Ribeiro, saxophonist Rodrigo Ursaia, bassist Bruno Migotto, and pianist Gustavo Bugni. In 2020, he and saxophonist Santi De La Rubia collaborated on the album Changes; its extended lineup included drummer Jorge Rossy and bassist Doug Weiss. Home, a duo album with vocalist Song Yi Jeon, arrived in 2022. Born in Rio, Gomes holds a master's degree from ECA/USP. His thesis, Helio Delmiro: Compositions for Solo Guitar, was published nationally. In 2015, he was won the PROAC award in the instrumental music category. Gomes is known internationally as one of Brazil's finest accompanists for vocalists; he was worked extensively with Zizi Possi, Rosa Passos, and Jane Duboc as both an accompanist and music director. In addition, he has been a first-call orchestral guitarist with OSESP (São Paulo Symphony Orchestra) and Jazz Sinfônica of SP - Brasil. He is also a founding member of Brazil's celebrated instrumental crossover quartet KVAR with pianist Fabio Leandro, drummer Guilherme Marques, and bassist Igor Pimenta. Their self-titled 2015 debut won critical notice from Asia to the Americas and Europe. Gomes apprenticed with Arthur Verocai and played on jazz recordings by Tonhino Ferragutti Quinteto, Daniel de Paula, Ludere (alongside Philippe Baden Powell), Guilherme Ribeiro, Alexandre Silverio, and Robertinho Silva, to name a few. On Resiliência, his leader debut album for Blaxtream in 2017, he composed, arranged, and led a quintet and string quartet. The album's overwhelmingly positive critical reception allowed Gomes the luxury of touring not only Brazil, but Finland, Sweden, and South American countries including Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, and Paraguay. That year Gomes also played a key role on Toninho Ferragutti's A Gata Café album, which took home that year's Brazilian Music Award. In 2018, he served in Wolfgang Muthspiel's Focusyear Ensemble with vocalist Song Yi Jeon, tenor player Santi De La Rubia, vibraphonist Matt DiBiase, and drummer Chase Kuesel. Gomes and De La Rubia joined the drummer on his acclaimed Ears & Eyes Records debut Space Between. In 2020, Gomes and De La Rubia co-led a quartet featuring drummer Jorge Rossy and bassist Doug Weiss on the album Changes, issued by Fresh Sound New Talent. He then paired with vocalist Jeon for their intimate 2022 duo album, Home.
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