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Ian Coury
By age 12, Ian Coury had shared the stage with Brazilian choro legends like Armandinho and Hamilton de Holanda. Now 24, he is recognized as one of Brazil’s top 10-string mandolin virtuosos, expanding the instrument’s expressive range. Ian has performed with Paquito D’Rivera, Claudio Roditi, and Toninho Horta, earning awards such as "Best Instrumentalist" at the National FM Radio Festival (2020). A Brasília native, he studied at Berklee College of Music on full scholarship, receiving the String Department Award and completing a master’s at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute under Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, and Joe Lovano. Ian has taught at Harvard, MIT, and Choro Camp New England, and launched the first online Brazilian mandolin course in the US on pegheadnation.com. He continues to perform internationally, known for his impeccable technique and innovative approach.
Igor Souza
At 26, Igor Souza is a talented musician, arranger, producer, and educator from Rio de Janeiro. He began playing at six and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from UNIRIO. Known as the “7-String Guitar Phenomenon of Brazil,” Igor has taught over 900 students and performed in five European countries and across Brazil. He has toured with Xande de Pilares on the “Xande Canta Caetano” tour, performed in Rio’s Carnival with top samba schools since 2016, and worked with Grammy-winning artist Esperanza Spalding. A sought-after studio musician, he has contributed to TV Globo soundtracks, including the iconic Globeleza theme. In 2025, he released his debut album with Saulo Fernandes on Japan’s Pyramid Label, and in 2026 he will release Novos Caminhos, a collaborative project with mandolinist Ian Coury, showcasing his versatility in choro, samba, and Brazilian instrumental music.
Bio
Novos Caminhos brings together two of Brazil's most electrifying instrumentalists: 10-string mandolin player Ian Coury and 7-string guitarist Igor Souza. A Berklee College of Music graduate mentored at the Global Jazz Institute by Danilo Pérez and John Patitucci, Coury has shared the stage with Paquito D'Rivera and Claudio Roditi and was named Best Instrumentalist at Festival Rádio Nacional FM. Souza, hailed by Folha de Vitória as Brazil's "Phenomenon of the 7-String Guitar," has recorded with Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding and composed for Brazil’s TV Globo. Fresh off a sold-out 19-show US tour, the duo fuses choro, samba, and jazz into a sound that's both deeply rooted and boundary-pushing.
Listen to the album
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