Silvério Pontes

Silvério Pontes is a trumpeter and composer born in Laje do Muriaé, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. He is a reference in Brazilian music, recognised above all for his work in choro and instrumental music.

The son of a trumpeter, he began his musical journey as a child in the Lira da Esperança band of his hometown. In the late 1970s he moved to Niterói, where he studied at the Villa-Lobos School of Music and also attended the National School of Music.

His career began accompanying Luiz Melodia and then Tim Maia, with whom he played for several years. Along the way he has also shared the stage with Elza Soares and Paulinho da Viola in many shows. He is currently the trumpeter of the band Cidade Negra.

Silvério has recorded with major names of Brazilian popular music, among them Beth Carvalho, Francis Hime, Martinho da Vila and Fundo de Quintal. For three decades he formed with trombonist Zé da Velha a duo known as “the world's smallest big band”, with the albums Só Gafieira (1995), Tudo Dança (1999), Ele e Eu (2000), Samba Instrumental (2003), Só Pixinguinha (2006) and Ouro e Prata (2011).