Flávio Guimarães was born in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, and in that city he studied harmonica with
Maurício Einhorn.
He started his musical career around 1985. In 1986, he formed the group
Blues Etílicos, with Greg Wilson (vocals and guitar), Otávio Rocha (guitar),
Pedro Strasser (drums) and Cláudio Bedran (bass). With the group, Guimarães
did many show around Brazil and world and recorded several albums. In 1988,
Guimarães travelled to Chicago, where he played with many American musician,
including the harmonicist Sugar Blue. One year later, he opened Festival de
Blues, in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, playing with Buddy Guy. In that
same year, he also opened shows for John Lee Hooker and John Mayall, during
Free Jazz Festival. In the following years, Guimarães played in the most
important festival in Brazil, such as Blues Fest, Rock in Rio II and Nescafé
in Blues. During this period, he also played with many famous Brazilian
artists, like Ed Motta, Roberto Frejat and Paulo Moura. He played with
international artists too, such as Midnight Blues Band.
Since 1990, when Bizz magazine indicated Guimarães as one of the best
hamonicists of Brazil, he has participated of many hamonica players
meetings. In fact, Guimarães became famous between Brazilian harmonicists
because he was the first one to play diatonic harmonicas in that country,
introducing new possibilities of timbre to the music of his nation. In 1998,
he participated of Harmonica's Night, with Carey Bell and Peter Madcat. In
this same period, with a new band, he opened show for
B. B. King, in Via Funchal, Brazil. He, with
Tavares da Gaita, was considered one of the most important attractions in
the history of Rec-Beat festival, in Recife, Brazil. Along his career,
Guimarães recorded many album. His first solo album was Little blues, in
1995. In 2000, he recorded his second disc, named On the loose. In 2007,
celebrating 20 years of Blues Etílicos, his band recorded an album in honor
of Muddy Waters, one of the biggest
exponent blues musician. Around two years later, Guimarães recorded another
solo album, named The blues follows me, and he realized many shows around
Brazil, spreading this work. ~ Wikipedia
