Renato Borghetti: accordion
Pedro Figueiredo: sax, flutes
Vitor Peixoto: piano
Daniel Sá: guitar
Renato Borghetti is a unique case of an instrumentalist from Rio Grande do Sul, a region often overlooked by Brazil’s mainstream music industry. Yet, in the nu-folk scene, he is a true superstar. This charismatic gaúcho is one of the leading ambassadors of the melancholic and passionate música gaúcha, which he has reimagined, adapted, and modernized, breathing new life into the native sounds of his homeland. His live performances are unforgettable events—a brilliant and elegant blend of traditional styles such as Milonga, Chacarera, Chamamé, as well as Baião and Samba, fused with elements of jazz, tango, and chamber music. All this is reinterpreted with incredible virtuosity on the accordion, showcasing a playful, acrobatic, and direct style that recalls the lively spirit of Zydeco and Cajun music from Louisiana, which similarly combines European and African influences. Thanks to his father, who was involved in the Centro de Tradições Gaúchas (Gaúcho Traditions Center) in Porto Alegre, Borghetti was introduced to music at a very young age. At ten, he received his first eight-button accordion, which remains his main instrument. He made his professional debut at the age of 15 during a major regional festival in the early 1980s. His first LP, "Renato Borghetti Gaita-Ponto" (1984), achieved a Gold Record (the first ever for a Brazilian instrumental album) with over 100,000 copies sold. The CD reissue sold nearly 250,000 copies, reaching Platinum status. Following this debut, Borghetti maintained a deep connection with traditional gaúcha music while expanding the boundaries of regional rhythms across his subsequent 26 albums. Fondly called “Borghettinho” by his fans worldwide, he has shared the stage during his more than 40-year career with greats such as Dominguinhos, Sivuca, Stéphane Grappelli, Ron Carter, and Hermeto Pascoal. Despite his global success and musical explorations, Renato Borghetti remains authentically gaúcho, with his long hair, hat, and wide riding trousers. Borghetti is also one of the few musicians from southern Brazil who regularly performs in Europe. Since 2000, he has also performed extensively in Tunisia, the United States, Canada, Uruguay, and Argentina. In 2011, Borghetti and his quartet made it to the big screen: their 2010 European summer tour was captured in the road movie series "Borghetti na Estrada", a hit broadcast by Brazilian network RBS and released on DVD. Two tracks from the album "Gaúchos" were featured in the award-winning documentary "A Mão e a Luva", directed by Italian filmmaker Roberto Orazi. Borghetti is also committed to ensuring a future for the accordion in southern Brazil. In 2010, the first diatonic accordion bearing the "Borghetti" brand was produced at the Fábrica de Gaiteiros near his ranch. This project was created not only to manufacture instruments but also to offer music and accordion courses for underprivileged children and young people. It was at this "Factory of Accordionists" that he recorded his album "Gaita na Fábrica – Sounds from the Squeezebox Factory". The documentary "BorghettiYamandu", produced by Estação Elétrica, chronicles Renato's duo project with Brazilian guitar virtuoso Yamandu Costa. Released on DVD and CD in 2017, the project was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2018. The European live premiere of this extraordinary duo took place at the Wiener Konzerthaus in October 2019. Borghetti has performed twice at the Free Jazz Festival (São Paulo) and has appeared as a soloist with several symphony and chamber orchestras, including the Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre. At FolkClub, Renato Borghetti returns (after performing in a duo with Arthur Bonilla in December 2011) with his sensational quartet, composed of the finest musicians from Rio Grande do Sul:
Pedro Figueiredo: A virtuoso on saxophone and flute, a brilliant arranger, producer, and sound consultant. Former technical director of the Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre, he is currently the artistic director of the Centro Cultural Mario Quintana in Porto Alegre. He has been collaborating with Borghetti for 18 years and has worked with Milton Nascimento, Paulo Moura, Nei Lisboa, Luiz Carlos Borges, Frank Solari, and Vítor Ramil.
Daniel Sá: A guitarist, composer, arranger, and producer, as well as a teacher of classical, popular, and jazz guitar. He also composes music for film and is one of the best guitarists in southern Brazil. He has been working with Borghetti since 1989 and has collaborated with Guinga, Ulisses Rocha, Turíbio Santos, and Yamandu Costa.
Vitor Peixoto: A pianist, composer, and arranger, he is one of the most sought-after musicians in Rio Grande do Sul for jazz, MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), and Música Popular Gaúcha. A founding member of the Renato Borghetti Quartet, he rejoined the group in 2006. He has collaborated with Frank Solari, Gelson Oliveira, Kiko Freitas, Neto Fagundes, the Orquestra do Teatro São Pedro, and Serginho Moa.
