In Brazil, where musical virtuosos (Sergio Mendes, Gilberto Gil, Antonio Carlos Jobim, et al.) are as abundant as lunatics on our local roadways, guitarist Rick Udler has achieved considerable acclaim. Born in Chile and raised in the States and São Paulo, he lived at various times in New Orleans and Los Angeles, and, notably, in Miami during the early Eighties. Here he honed his musical skills and reconciled his love of rock with an abiding devotion to bossa nova. That's what took him back to Brazil, where he teamed up with vocalist Maria Alvim and recorded the critically acclaimed album Rhythm and Romance in 1996.
Having suddenly found himself a favorite of the jazz set, Udler went on to produce Reflections, Brazilian guitarist Paulinho Nogueira's debut disc for the American market in 1999. Later, in 2006, he won raves with Papaya, his own all-instrumental offering. Lately he has spent his time touring, teaching guitar workshops, preparing an instructional DVD about Brazilian guitar, and, most recently, participating in the prestigious Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention in Nashville. He played South Florida just this past April, but he has yet to wear out his welcome, evidenced by the fact he'll make two appearances here prior to kicking off his latest stateside sojourn.
