Cosmopaulista is the debut album by Brazilian
drummer and composer Mário Gaiotto which paints a
jazz-infused portrait of one of the world’s biggest cities.

The album title combines the words ‘cosmopolitan’
and ‘paulista’ - people from the state of São Paulo -
which encapsulates his concept of migration and
immigration.

Accompanied by pianist Daniel Grajew and bassist
Sidiel Vieira, the trio presents ten original compositions
which showcase the diverse influences that the city is
blessed with.

“There is Maracatu from Recife, Batuque de Umbigada
from São Paulo, Pagode de Viola from Minas Gerais,
Choro and the Maxixe from Rio de Janeiro...” comments
Gaiotto.

“Living in São Paulo I fell in love with its
multiculturalism. That's why in my songs there are Brazilians but also Jews, Arabs, Turks, Japanese,
Armenians, Moroccans, Europeans, Americans, all living together in peace and without borders.”

Recorded in summer 2021 when covid was rife, the three musicians came together with a minimum of
rehearsal time, producing a session which pushed each player to their musical and improvisational
limits.

Sidiel Vieira is one of the most in-demand bassists in São Paulo (“he’s played with ‘Deus e o mundo’ -
God and the world” laughs Gaiotto) and couples a fearsome technique and rhythmic concept with extremely tasteful playing.

Alongside him, Gaiotto enlisted pianist Daniel Grajew as a musician who is not only known as a mature
improvisor, but also one who has the ability to express himself in a range of contexts and cultural settings.
“Every time I listen to the album again, I'm even more sure that I picked the right pianist. Daniel understood perfectly what I was looking for with the compositions and put a lot of effort into preparing them.”

Recorded at Da Pá Virada studio in Sao Paulo by Thiago “Big” Rabello, the session almost didn’t happen. The trio were originally scheduled to tour together as winners of the Proac award and it was
only the onset of covid which saw them shift their focus and get permission to record an album - captured in its entirety by filmmaker Dani Gurgel - instead.

The resulting videos were showcased online by ten municipalities in the state and now, finally, the music is ready to travel outside of Brazil to a worldwide audience.

Mario Gaiotto – Drums
Daniel Grajew – Piano Sidiel Vieira – Bass