Here’s a profile of the 2 of them :

PAULO BELLINATI & CRISTINA AZUMA (BRAZIL)

Winner of numerous awards, including the Guitar Player magazine poll as one of the top 10 Brazilian guitarists, the 1994 Prêmio Sharp awards (Brazilian Grammy) as best arranger for Gal Costa’s CD “O Sorriso do Gato de Alice” and many others – Sao Paulo born Guitarist / Musical Scholar / Composer / Arranger, Paulo Bellinati, a graduate from the Conservatory Dramatico e Musical of Sao Paulo and Conservatory of Geneva, is noted as one of Brazil’s most accomplished contemporary guitarists.

Besides performing solo concerts and giving master classes in many international guitar Festivals, he has recorded and performed with many internationally renowned Artists such as Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Joao Bosco among others. Paulo, who plays a very typical Brazilian serenade guitar with steel strings (a very rare instrument made in Rio De Janeiro in 1935), has written arrangements for many different ensembles, drawing his inspiration from rich tradition of the various Brazilian musical styles and has developed a contemporary approach to Brazilian folklore – enhancing traditional forms with modern compositional techniques and harmonies.

Joining Paulo on stage is Cristina Azuma, with whom Paulo has performed with for over 20 years and in his own words says, “We have been playing together for more then 20 years and she is my best interpreter by far, as she understands Brazilian music as well as the classical and baroque guitar styles. It’s always a huge pleasure to share the stage with her”. 

Cristina, who is also a Doctor of Musicology from the Sorbonne University specializing in the late 17^th Century, plays a nylon string classical guitar, has received international awards for her solo performances and has clearly defined her musical personality as an innovator with a willingness to expand her repertoire on the guitar. She has to her performance credits, performed in many music Festivals in Havana, Martinique, Cordoba, Tokyo, London, Paris and many other countries.

“Paulo Bellinati and Cristina Azuma’s performance in The Penang Island Jazz Festival is supported by The Embassy of Brazil”