Contemporary Brazilian Music Workshop with Ian Coury and Igor Souza (Novos Caminhos)

Discover the rhythmic depth, melodic language, and ensemble interplay of contemporary Brazilian music in this interactive workshop with Brazilian musicians Ian Coury (10-string mandolin) and Igor Souza (7-string guitar). Through live demonstrations, guided listening, improvisation, rhythmic studies, ear training, and ensemble exercises, participants will explore traditions including choro and samba while examining how today’s musicians reinterpret them through modern arranging, harmony, counterpoint, and groove. Open to musicians of all backgrounds interested in expanding their understanding of Brazilian music through both practical application and cultural context. Participants are encouraged to bring their instruments.
Note: This workshop is open to all, but is intended primarily for guitarists and other chordal/harmony instruments.
Bio
Novos Caminhos brings together two leading voices in Brazilian instrumental music: Ian Coury (10-string mandolin) and Igor Souza (7-string guitar). Rooted in the traditions of choro and samba, the duo combines virtuosity, improvisation, and contemporary arranging to create music that honors Brazilian musical heritage while pushing it in new directions. Their performances feature original compositions and inventive interpretations shaped by both Brazilian traditions and modern jazz influences, creating a sound that is deeply connected to Brazil yet open to the wider world.
Ian Coury
By age 12, Ian Coury had already shared the stage with Brazilian choro legends including Armandinho and Hamilton de Holanda. Now recognized as one of Brazil’s leading 10-string mandolin players, he has performed with artists including Paquito D’Rivera, Claudio Roditi, and Toninho Horta. A native of Brasília, Ian studied at Berklee College of Music on full scholarship and later completed a master’s degree at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute under Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, and Joe Lovano. He has taught at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Choro Camp New England, and is known internationally for his technical mastery and innovative approach to Brazilian mandolin.
Igor Souza
Igor Souza is a Brazilian guitarist, arranger, producer, and educator from Rio de Janeiro known for his work on 7-string guitar. A graduate of UNIRIO with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education, he has performed throughout Brazil and Europe and has taught hundreds of students through workshops and online instruction. Igor has toured with Brazilian singer Xande de Pilares, performed with Rio de Janeiro samba schools since 2016, and collaborated with Esperanza Spalding. As a studio musician, he has contributed to soundtracks for TV Globo, including the well-known Globeleza theme. His recent work includes collaborations with Saulo Fernandes and the forthcoming Novos Caminhos recording project with Ian Coury.