Sérgio and Odair Assad
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Credit: J. Henry Fair

Web Links:
http://www.opus3artists.com/profiles/60190.html
www.nonesuch.com

Brazilian-born brothers Sergio and Odair Assad have set the benchmark for all other guitarists by creating a new standard of guitar innovation, ingenuity and expression. Their exceptional artistry and uncanny ensemble playing come from both a family rich in Brazilian musical tradition and from studies with the best guitarists in South America. In addition to setting new performance standards, the Assads have played a major role in creating and introducing new music for two guitars. Their virtuosity has inspired a wide range of composers to write for them: Astor Piazzolla, Terry Riley, Radamés Gnatalli, Marlos Nobre, Nikita Koshkin, Roland Dyens, Jorge Morel, Edino Krieger and Francisco Mignone. Now Sergio Assad is adding to their repertory by composing music for the duo and for various musical partners both with Symphony Orchestra and in recitals. They have worked extensively with such renowned artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Fernando Suarez Paz, Paquito D'Rivera, Gidon Kremer and Dawn Upshaw.

The Assads began playing the guitar together at an early age and went on to study for seven years with guitar/lutenist Monina Távora, a disciple of Andrés Segovia. Their international career began with a major prize at the 1979 young artists competition in Bratislava. Odair is based in Brussels where he teaches at Ecole Supérieure des Arts, and Sergio resides in Chicago where he teaches at Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts, yet the majority of their time is spent on tour throughout the Americas, Europe and the Far East

The Assads' repertoire includes original music composed by Sergio Assad and his reworkings of folk and jazz music as well as Latin music of almost every style. Their standard classical repertoire includes transcriptions of the great Baroque keyboard literature of Bach, Rameau and Scarlatti; and adaptations of works by such diverse figures as Gershwin, Ginastera and Debussy. Their programs are always a compelling blend of styles, periods and cultures.

The Assads are also recognized as prolific recording artists, primarily for the Nonesuch and GHA labels. In 2001, Nonesuch Records released "Sérgio and Odair Assad Play Piazzolla," which won a Latin Grammy in September 2002. Other duo CDs include an album of Baroque works and "Saga dos Migrantes" for Nonesuch. They have recorded Piazzolla discs with Gidon Kremer (Nonesuch) and Yo-Yo Ma (Sony Classical), the latter a Grammy winner in 1998. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.