A versatile artist who blends academic rigor with the distinct expressions of Jazz, Brazilian Music, and global styles.
B.A. Music - Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (Brazil)
M.A. Jazz Studies - University of Iowa (U.S.A)
M.M. Contemporary Performance (Production Concentration) - Berklee College of Music (ESP)
ongoing PROJECTS
MARITACA EP
This 3-track project (Maritaca, Mnemosyne, Morro Vermelho) was written and recorded while I was living in the U.S., by a septet/octet of incredibly talented musicians.
It's a blend of jazz meeting the rhythmic punch of Brazilian sounds and styles, plus elements of other music I love. Check it out!
VALENCIANAS 1
"Valencianas 1" is an EP featuring 4 original pieces written for some of the wonderful musicians (and friends!) I met in Valencia, Spain, during my master’s at Berklee College of Music.
Each track represents a unique journey of collaboration, learning, and connection.
This EP is the first of a 3-part "Valencianas" collection, with the remaining two on their way. Enjoy!
THINGS YOU COULD HAVE BEEN
This piece was written after tearing apart — respectfully, of course — Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein’s “All the Things You Are”, and using the scraps to put together 3 "movements":
1. Ya Sell the Guitar, Hon – for solo guitar (plus an improvised section by guitar and bass)
2. "Uh, Yet, Hell" a Riot Sang – for quintet.
3. Hear the Soul Lying at 797 – for quintet.
A fun challenge of musical assemblage!
Reorganizing the tune's materials and concepts, channeling some modern classical, free-jazz, and baroque music, hopefully through my own voice.
I poured a lot into this, enjoy!
* (The title of each movement is an anagram of "All the Things You Are")SIX STRINGS STANDARDS
An ongoing project of mine, dedicated to exploring solo guitar possibilites through the Jazz standard repertoire.
Here, I write and perform solo arrangements of some of my absolute favorite tunes. My goal is to make each arrangement unique and fun by playing with textures, structures, reharmonizations, and (almost always) improvised sections.
It's all about exploring the timeless beauty of these songs through the lens of solo guitar. Enjoy!
JAZZ GUITAR LEGACY TRANSCRIBED
An ongoing project of mine, here I meticulously transcribe and understand great solos from the history of jazz guitar - from its beginnings to contemporary artists.
Bebop language and vocabulary; motivic development and thematic variations; advanced harmonic, melodic, rhythmic, and structural concepts…
There's a lot of beautiful stuff here!
If you're looking for a systematic view of the vocabulary of the jazz guitar greats, you’ve come to the right place.
Composition for movies and theatre, advertisement and games, children’s books and multimedia projects.
Recorded the album “Maritaca”, of original instrumental compositions, with North American and Brazilian musicians while living in the U.S.
Composed music for projects awarded in Brazil and abroad.
Has performed in several cities in Brazil, as well as in Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark.
music for media
about
Giordano Pagotto
A Brazilian-Italian guitarist / composer / arranger / educator based in Valencia, Spain, I approach music by blending cultural flavors, with a focus on Jazz and Brazilian traditions enriched by global artistic concepts.
My musical journey started with a B.A. in Brazil (Minas Gerais), followed by two Master's degrees: first, an M.A. in Jazz Studies in the U.S. (Iowa), and later, an M.Mus. at Berklee College of Music (Valencia).
I've been fortunate to perform and record globally. While in the U.S., I wrote and recorded my original jazz septet EP, Maritaca. More recently, I completed my Valencianas EP series (1, 2, and 3), collaborating with amazing international musicians I met while living in Spain.
My passion for composition also extends to media, including short films and advertising. One especially cherished example is the 3-part chamber orchestra soundtrack for the Zoic multimedia project, which I had the opportunity to tour across Brazil, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Austria, and Switzerland.
I also dedicate time to research and performance projects like Jazz Guitar Legacy Transcribed and my solo arrangements in Six String Standards. Currently, I’m working on new material focused on improvisation and advanced jazz arranging techniques.
I'm glad you stopped by!
