João Gaspar

Biography

João Gaspar holds a Bachelor's degree in Brazilian Popular Music (MPB) and a Master's degree from UNIRIO. He is an arranger, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who plays a diverse range of stringed instruments including guitar, acoustic guitars (nylon, steel, 12-string), mandolin, Portuguese guitar, dobro, ukulele, lap steel, and banjo. He has studied popular, classical, and flamenco guitar. A tireless and voracious researcher of the musical universe, João constantly explores diverse styles, artists, techniques, and timbres. In 2007, he released his first solo album Camaleão Carioca and performed numerous release concerts. At the time, he gave interviews to radio stations (MEC FM, MPB FM), websites, and specialized magazines such as Guitar Player. The album received excellent international reviews and was played on radio stations in Brazil, the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia, Costa Rica, and Argentina. In 2009, at the 20th edition of the Rio de Janeiro Tápias Festival, he won the award for Best Instrumentalist. In 2010, he performed a circuit of SESCs (Tijuca, Madureira, and São Gonçalo) in Rio de Janeiro with a trio formation. Also in 2010, he participated in MIMO (International Music Showcase in Olinda), teaching a workshop and performing with a quartet. The festival also featured renowned artists such as McCoy Tyner, Mike Stern, Egberto Gismonti, Leo Gandelman, Carlos Malta, Wagner Tiso, and others. He taught a workshop and performed with his quartet at Valadares Jazz Festival 2021, which featured other artists including Hamilton de Holanda and Leo Gandelman. João has shared the stage and/or recorded with legendary Brazilian artists including Ivan Lins, Maria Bethânia, Simone, Zélia Duncan, Jorge Vercillo, Maria Rita, Lenine, Hamilton de Holanda, Daniela Mercury, Milton Nascimento, Leo Gandelman, Mart'nalia, Frejat, Daniel Boaventura, Isabella Taviani, Angela Ro Ro, Taryn Szplilman, Fafá de Bélem, Roberta Campos, Eduardo Dussek, Guinga, Zeca Baleiro, Rita Ribeiro, Carlos Malta, Eugenia Leon (Mexico), Tunai, Zé Ramalho, Ney Matogrosso, Simone Guimarães, Arthur Maia, Josee Koning (Netherlands), Daniel Gonzaga, Claudio Lins, and Naná Vasconcelos. In 2015, he released his second solo instrumental album Rota Alternativa, which received excellent critical reception. He was part of the house band for the TV program Encontro com Fátima Bernardes (Rede Globo) between 2016 and 2019, performing on dozens of episodes with various renowned Brazilian artists. He conceived and performed the mandolin sound theme for all Copa América 2019 games. Since 2021, he has participated in concerts with OSB (Brazilian Symphony Orchestra) playing guitar and acoustic guitars. Since 2019, he has been collaborating with Nelson Faria on the online educational platform Fica a Dica Premium, teaching courses and online classes to students worldwide. He released the single Naturalmente (João Gaspar) from his third solo album. He completed his Professional Master's degree at UNIRIO in 2022, and that same year launched the RPEG course (online method of complete guitar practice). He released a guitar sample pack (Brazilian Electric Guitar) produced by AudioXpression in Los Angeles. In September 2023, he released the original album Acoustic landscapes: RESONATOR, followed in 2024 by Acoustic landscapes: UKULELE through XpandMusic (USA – Los Angeles). In 2025, he had video lessons published on Guitar Player Online (USA) teaching 6 rhythm guitar and acoustic guitar grooves on Brazilian rhythms.