Burning hotter than ever, the former child prodigy on the serious business of music, playing with Felix Pastorius, and what’s special about Brazil
The history of child prodigies is littered with burnouts, but Michael Pipoquinha isn’t one of them. The Brazilian bassist has more than delivered on the early promise he showed in an astonishing video that circulated in 2010, when he was just 13. A packed schedule of workshops, gigs, tours, and sessions led to two albums in 2017, Nosso Mundo and Lua, which cemented his reputation as a player and composer blessed with warmth, imagination, and technical facility. Cumplicidade (2020), a series of interactive duets with guitarist Pedro Martins, set the stage for 2023’s Um Novo Tom, a Brazilified take on the current jazz scene, as well as his two latest singles, the large-ensemble “Veredas” and the soulful “Agora.” At the NAMM show in January, Pipoquinha stayed busy jamming with bass phenoms Hossn Munr, Rubem Farias, Henrik Linder, Thundercat, Hadrien Feraud, and Mohini Dey; next was a performance at Berklee, a gig in Boston, and a trio show in Miami with Feraud and Hossn, collectively known as Basstardos. Clearly, the man is on fire.
1. How did you fall in love with bass?
My father Elisvan Silva, who’s also a bass player, gave me an acoustic guitar when I was ten years old, and I started playing in church. That was my first school. Then I began playing bass, and I’ve been playing ever since.
2. Who inspired you to get serious about music?
My grandfather, who played accordion, and my father, as well as John Coltrane, Luiz Gonzaga, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Arthur Maia, Jaco, Chick Corea…the list goes on.
3. What did you learn from playing in front of millions of people on the popular Brazilian TV show Fantástico at age 13?
I learned that music is a serious business, and that people will identify you with what you play. I also learned that I had to be careful with my heart, my music, and my presence. I had to take music seriously.
4. How do you compose?
I listen for melodies that come to me and then play them on piano or guitar, or I find something I like on piano or bass and build around that. Then I visualize which musicians would fit perfectly. On my next album, I’ll be singing, and I know exactly what musicians and grooves I want.
5. What are your favorite basses?
Fender Jazz Basses. I love Tagima basses, made in Brazil, especially my fretless and my 6-string. I also like Foderas, and I like vintage basses, especially Fenders, from the 1960s and ’70s. There are many great Brazilian luthiers.
6. Why are there so many ridiculous bass players in Brazil?
We are spontaneous, and we naturally combine “strict” music and street music.
7. What’s the most important thing you tell your students?
Everyone has music inside. The tools are the same — scales, harmony, etc. — but I like to help develop what’s inside and bring out the best of each person.
8. Name a recent, memorable gig.
In New York, I got to play with my friends Justin Brown on drums and Pedro Martins on guitar — and Jaco’s son Felix, a great bass player, was on the bill. Playing in front of Felix was very special for me.
9. What artists are rocking your world right now?
I like American musicians like Thundercat and Brad Mehldau, the jazz tradition, fusion, James Francies, the mix of things. And I’m always listening to Brazilian music.
10. What are you planning for the next album?
Continuing to blend the two worlds that I love. There will be singing, percussion, synths…it’ll be crazy. It should be out this summer. –BM
Keep up with Michael: @michaelpipoquinha
By: E. E. Bradman
