Chico Pinheiro & Vinicius Cantuária: Brazilian Guitar Dialogues

Brazilian guitarist and composer Chico Pinheiro joins Backstage Bay Area to talk about his musical journey, his duo collaboration with Vinicius Cantuária, and the stories behind his compositions “City of Dreams” and “Estrada Real” ahead of their upcoming SFJAZZ performances.A DownBeat Rising Star guitarist, Pinheiro reflects on his early start as a working musician in São Paulo, how Jimi Hendrix first pulled him to the guitar, and why “fun” has always been central to his artistic philosophy. He also explores the emotional geography behind “City of Dreams,” written during his move from São Paulo to New York, and the historical resonance of “Estrada Real,” inspired by Brazil’s colonial-era gold route.Pinheiro also shares how his partnership with Vinicius Cantuária grew from admiration into a deep musical simpático, and what audiences can expect from their intimate duo sets—original music, Brazilian classics, Jobim, and spontaneous interplay shaped by close listening.🎵 Music featured in this episode was used with permission and provided by the artist.“City of Dreams”“Estrada Real”Music by Chico Pinheiro, from his catalog. Used with permission.Vinicius Cantuária & Chico PinheiroJanuary 16–17SFJAZZ Center — Joe Henderson LabShowtimes: 7:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.Tickets: https://www.sfjazz.org/tickets/productions/25-26/vinicius-cantuaria-chico-pinheiro/Chico Pinheiro's official website:https://www.chicopinheiro.com/Backstage Bay Area brings you in-depth conversations with the artists shaping today’s jazz scene—from intimate club performers to global innovators. Hosted by Steven Roby.Keeping Jazz Alive in the 415.