Choro de Menina

Nilze Carvalho

1980

Cover of Choro de Menina
Top 100

Why This Album Matters

Choro de Menina is Nilze Carvalho's instrumental debut album, released in 1981, which inaugurated a celebrated series of LPs. Recorded when the artist was just 12 years old, this work established her as a prodigy instrumentalist, solidifying her name in the Brazilian choro scene. The record is notable for presenting Nilze as a mandolinist, demonstrating an early virtuosity that catapulted her to national and international recognition. This album not only marked the beginning of Nilze's recording career, but also consolidated her as a central figure in the choro circuit while still in her adolescence, driving tours across several continents. Choro de Menina is, therefore, a significant milestone in the trajectory of one of Brazilian music's great instrumentalists, revealing exceptional talent from a tender age.

Context

Before the recording of Choro de Menina, Nilze Carvalho was already recognised as a prodigy instrumentalist in Brazil. Her musical journey began very early, learning the cavaquinho at five years old and performing publicly at six, including on widely popular television programmes such as Fantástico, on TV Globo, and on the now defunct TV Rio. This prior visibility paved the way for the recording of her first studio album, which would reinforce her image as an early talent and propel her career to an even greater scale.

Recording

The album Choro de Menina was recorded in 1981, when Nilze Carvalho was just 12 years old. This instrumental work was the first in a series of four volumes that the artist would record by the age of 14, predominantly performing as a mandolinist. A notable aspect of the production is that the first and fourth albums in this series were recorded with the accompaniment of the renowned ensemble Época de Ouro, a group founded by the legendary Jacob do Bandolim. This collaboration with a historical ensemble conferred upon the album an authenticity and significant endorsement within the choro universe.

Rankings

Tracks

Credits

Arranged By, Conductor

Dino 7 Cordas, Época De Ouro

Co-producer

Fernando Campos, Jorginho Do Pandeiro

7-string Acoustic Guitar

Dino 7 Cordas

A&R [Direção Artística], Producer

Aramis Barros

Acoustic Guitar

Carlinhos Leite, César Faria

Bass

Dininho

Cavaquinho

Jonas Pereira Da Silva

Clarinet, Saxophone

Netinho

Crew

Paschoal Perrota

Pandeiro

Jorginho do Pandeiro

Rhythm Section

Celsinho Silva

Viola Caipira

Ronaldo Viola

Lacquer Cut By

Laurimar Lopes

Recorded By, Mixed By

Harley

Coordinator

Harry Zuckermann

Layout, Photography By

Luiz Pessanha

Analyses

Discogs

Choro de Menina – Discogs

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