When it comes to bass virtuosos, there’s something in the water in Brazil. Watching players like Michael Pipoquinha, Munir Hossn, Thiago Espirito Santo, Junior Braguinha, Fernando Rosa, and the late, great Nico Assumpção tear through finger-busting passages with confidence and humor can be an ear-opening experience, and it’s a shock to learn that there are so many more players like them. The latest extraordinary musician to boost Brazil’s profile by balancing sensitivity and jaw-dropping bass chops is Filipe Moreno, who coaxes a universe of sounds from his custom Fodera and Schönitz signature 6-strings. The Salvador native, not yet 30, has already released two ensemble albums (Meu Tabuleiro, from 2015, and Memórias, released in 2019) and an assured, self-titled 2017 solo album on electric bass. Like his previous releases, last year’s Desejo Divino is a gorgeously produced showcase for his compositions and dazzling technique, this time through the lens of his Schönitz acoustic bass guitar. We asked him about his background, his instruments, and what makes Brazilian bass players special.  How did you begin your relationship with music? I began playing keyboards at the age of seven, but there was music in my house all the time. Three generations of my family are musicians, all very good and intuitive. I picked up electric bass at the age of 13 and moved from Bahia to São Paulo to study and work with music at 18. Did playing piano at such a young age help you develop your relationship to harmony? Possibly, but I think I've always had a musical ear for distributing frequencies and assembling chords. My father played choro and bossa nova, so my ear was already trained before I played an instrument. Do you play double bass? A little bit, but it's not the instrument I like to play most when it comes to low frequencies. https://open.spotify.com/artist/5M290sixde4lrQ0C59s656 Which musicians made you want to get serious about music? The list is long, but here are some names: [bassists] Luciano Calazans, Ney Conceição, and Ivan Bastos, as well as [guitarist] Yamandu Costa. Was there a point when you decided to focus mainly on 6-string? I was about 21 years old when I knew I wanted to explore the universe of the six-string bass, due to the harmony, melody, and range of sounds. What inspired you to do a second album of solo bass compositions? It came naturally, like every album I make that closes a cycle of compositions.  What is the significance of the album art for Desejo Divino? It’s about the human need to evolve. In my case, it’s the search for true art without ego, my efforts to touch the real divine and let it flow. The cover art, made by the artist Eduardo Cabuí, alludes to Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel. How did you meet luthier Jens Schonitz, and what do you love about your signature Mummel bass?  I met Jens in 202