* En anglais uniquement
Evandro do Bandolim, leader of the Regional do Evandro do Bandolim, recorded 20 albums as a choro mandolin soloist, of which five were launched internationally: Le Bandolin Brésilien par Evandro in France, and four CDs issued in Japan, Evandro e o Conjunto Roda de Choro (1991), Valsas Brasileiras (1992), Memórias (1993), and Memórias, Vol. 2 (1994). Highly regarded as a musician, he came to back up artists like
Elza Soares, Inesita Barroso, Elizete Cardoso,
Moreira da Silva,
Sivuca,
Altamiro Carrilho,
Nelson Gonçalves,
Jamelão,
Cartola, and
Emilinha Borba; having also participated in recordings for the label Marcus Pereira, which specialized in historic musical research.
Having moved with his family to Rio de Janeiro in 1934, at a very young age Evandro made contact with the music of the chorões through his father, an amateur violonista (guitarist). At 13, Evandro took up the mandolin and was taught by Luperce Miranda, with whom he began to frequent his first rodas de choro (choro get-togethers). Soon, he also started to perform at important radio stations like Tupi and Mayrink Veiga. His first LP was recorded at age 29, and five years later he moved to São Paulo, where his professional life gathered momentum. In that city, the active cultural scene and the interest around the choro provided opportunities for him to work in several clubs and TV shows. Evandro recorded in 1977 the album Meu Bandolim no Choro, in which he interpreted classics by Ernesto Nazareth and
Pixinguinha and also originals. In 1978, the year in which Cordas que Choram was released, Evandro backed
Cartola with his regional (small group) at the Ópera Cabaré (São Paulo), later released as an LP (Cartola Ao Vivo, 1979). ~ Alvaro Neder