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Robert Everest
Biography

Minneapolis-based singer/songwriter/guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Robert Everest has been joyfully exploring the music of the world for over 25 years. Performing an average of 150 shows a year--locally, nationally, and internationally--he has delighted audiences around the globe with his original compositions and his vast repertoire of acoustic world music. His fascination with foreign languages led him through a linguistics degree from the University of MN, which facilitated the development of the multiple languages he brings to his performances. He is particularly fascinated by the incredible variety of musical styles found within Brazil, and organizes and directs the most attended annual Brazilian event in the 5-state area, Carnaval Brasileiro of the Twin Cities. Latin American music makes up the majority of his repertoire, but he also plays music from Southern Europe, singing in Spanish, French, Italian (including different dialects), Portuguese, German, Greek, and of course English. He has been featured on MPR's Talking Volumes alongside Chilean author Isabel Allende at the Fitzgerald Theatre, All Things Considered, promoting his latest solo CD The World on Seven Strings, and The Jazz Image with the late radio legend Leigh Kamman. He has also been interviewed and performed on KBEM's String Theory with Kevin Barnes and KFAI's programs Global Beat and Corazón Latino. Television stations KARE11, WCCO, and KSTP have invited him into the studio for live on-air performances on several occasions.

Though mostly self-taught, Robert has studied jazz guitar in Minneapolis, Brazilian guitar in California, classical guitar in Portugal, West African guitar in Togo, Flamenco in Spain, Tango in Argentina, and many other Latin American styles of music throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean. He has also studied percussion in Ghana and Brazil. His vocal technique is the result of exposure to dozens of international approaches to voice and several years of instruction, including four years with the University of Minnesota Jazz Singers.

Robert has recorded two other solo CDs of music from Latin America, Gracias a la Vida and Aquarela Do Brasil, which have received national radio play and taken him to many international tour destinations. He also recorded and co-produced the album Sonho Meu with his Brazilian group, Beira Mar Brasil, which performed regularly in the Twin Cities from 1996 (then under the name "Mocotó Brasil") to 2005, during which time the group was invited to esteemed local venues like the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, the Walker Art Center, and the First Avenue Main Stage, opening for Eddie Palmieri, along the way earning a nomination for Best Latin Band in Minnesota in 1998. The only chance you get to see Beira Mar Brasil these days is when Robert hosts the Brazilian Carnival Celebration each year, usually in February. This event, which features Brazilian guests that Robert flies in especially for this occasion, professional Samba dancers, authentic Brazilian masks, face painting, magic shows, and Brazilian food and drinks, is a must-see for any World Music aficionados.


With other ensembles or as a solo performer Robert has performed locally at venues like Orchestra Hall and the Fitzgerald Theatre, but most recently has performed a handful of shows in front of a packed house at the Dakota Jazz Club with his World Music ensemble "the Robert Everest Expedition." Among Robert’s international performance venues are the Ono Galerie in Bern, Switzerland, Bar Tempo in Madrid, Spain, The Golden View in Florence, Italy, and Birdland in Budapest, Hungary. His extensive Brazilian repertoire truly came full circle when he was invited to perform in the birthplace of Bossa Nova - Ipanema, Rio De Janeiro - at the prestigious Vinicius Piano Bar.


Robert has arranging and performing (both guitar and vocal) credits on Connie Evingson’s album The Secret of Christmas, and on Christine Rosholt’s Detour Ahead, both of which have received high acclaim. Other local musicians he has performed with include Lorie Line, Nachito Herrera, Tim Sparks, Estaire Godinez, Doug Little, Viviana Pintado, Becky Schlegel, and Pete Whitman, just to name a few.

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