Caio Afiune
Caio Afiune
Image courtesy of artist
Guitarist and composer Caio Afiune has spent the last 10 years making a lasting impression on the U.S. East Coast jazz scene. He has performed extensively as a sideman, accompanying jazz giants such as Jerry Bergonzi and Christian Sands and Brazilian legends Jacques and Paula Morelenbaum. He also leads his own project, the Caio Afiune Quintet, and collaborates with the international collective Imagine 5.
Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Afiune writes compositions that blend the essence of Brazil with his deep knowledge of the North American jazz tradition. His debut album, Caio Afiune, received widespread acclaim. Its lead track, “Prebenda,” was awarded an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award, and its closing track, “Dido,” was an official finalist in the 2015 Hollywood Songwriting Competition and won a DownBeat Student Music Award in 2016.
Since leaving his home country, Afiune has performed in Canada, Australia, Panama, Sweden, and throughout the U.S. He’s also taught at the New England Conservatory and Boston College and given private lessons and workshops.
Currently, Caio is preparing to release his second album, which features many up-and-coming young musicians from the Boston and New York jazz scenes, including Jessica Curran (voice), Henrique Eisenmann (piano), James Heazlewood-Dale (bass), Avery Logan (drums), Nathan Reising (alto saxophone), and Max Ridley (bass).
“Caio is a legitimate hybrid. He combines, in perfect doses, the music of his native Brazil and that of jazz.” —Luciana Souza