THE MUSICIAN

Edson Aparecido da Silva, Café, Percussionist, Singer, Composer, and Producer, was born in Villa Maria, São Paulo, Brazil. His dedication to the drums began at the age of 8 when he became fascinated by the Afro-Brazilian rhythms he heard and felt at the spiritual meetings which he attended with his parents.

In his late teens, his studies included a period of classical training in preparation for the Municipal Symphonic Orchestra of São Paulo, but his passion for the rhythms of his heritage took him at night to the clubs where he listened to and began playing jazz and popular music.

In his early 20's he moved to Rio with a theater troupe and studied technique at the Villa Lobos School. From 1976 to 1979 he performed for the Ministry of Education and Culture of Brazil in the National Arts Program "Seis e Meia."

In 1980 his world touring began with such artists as Chico Buarque, Milton Nascimento, Djavan and Simone. After moving to the US in 1985, it continued with James Last, Phillippe Saisse, Sadao Watanabe, The New York Samba Band, Roberta Flack, David Byrne, Tania Maria, Herbie Mann, Larry Coryell, Morthiam, Gato Barbieri, Vinx, Pepeu Gomes, Michael Franks, and Harry Belafonte, among many others.

He has recorded with Chuck Mangione, Stevie Winwood, Jon Lucien, Dave Liebman, Eliane Elias, Rob Mounsey's Flying Monkey Orchestra, Edu Lobo, Batacoto, Gilberto Gil with Ernie Watts, Paquito d'Rivera, David Byrne, Steve Khan, Baden Powell, Tom Harrell, Richard Stolzman, Joyce, Judy Niemack, Danny Gottlieb, Herbie Mann, Ana Caram, Bireli Lagrene, James Taylor, Djavan with Stevie Wonder, Sergio Mendes, and on Randy Brecker's Grammy® Award Winning "INTO THE SUN."

He has performed on video with Mick Jagger, David Byrne, Margareth Menezes and PBS' Harry Belafonte and friends. Besides numerous independent film and TV commercials, Café's percussive improvisations have been heard in the musical backgrounds of ABC's documentary series "TURNING POINT" and, most recently, in the motion picture "BELOVED", directed by Jonathan Demme, as well as the soundtrack of the motion picture "FOUR COPS," directed by Connor McCourt.

Café has also appeared in the US with Ashford & Simpson with Maya Angelou, Michael Brecker, Paul Winter, Astrud Gilberto, Betty Buckley, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Alex Foster, Lew Soloff, Manfredo Fest, David Kikoski, Aydin Essen, Vinicius Cantuaria, Claudio Roditi, Tony Cedras, Dianne Reeves, and many others.

Café also devotes his time and talent to share his knowledge in many educational programs, residencies and workshops.

Café toured Spain with his own band, Café Quintet, and performs regularly in the US with his trio. He is a founding member of the groups Fôlia de Reis, and Ave. Brazil. Fôlia de Reis' first CD has been just released in Japan by Bomba records, and in the US by Café Percussion Records.

pictures:
#1: Café
#2: Cidinho, Don Salvador & Café - Fôlia de Reis
#3: Café at educational event