Squeezebox Gaúcho with Passion and Flair
Ecstasy, humour and first rate virtuosity: Accordion wizard Renato Borghetti is the superstar among the nu folk musicians from Rio Grande do Sul in Southern Brazil. The charismatic gaucho has revised, adapted and modernized many of the native sounds of his home country. His shows are unforgettable live events, offering a sparkling and elegant mix of traditional forms such as Milonga, Chacacera and Chamamé with elements of Jazz, Tango and chamber music, adapting each of those forms to his unique style of accordion playing.

“Borghettinho”, as his fans like to call him, has been recording cds since the beginning of the 80ies. He has shared the stage with big names such as Dominguinhos, Sivuca, Stephane Grapelli, Ron Carter and Hermeto Pascoal and is the first Brazilian musician to achieve a golden record with purely instrumental music. His direct and playful style slightly reminds of the feeling of Zydeco and Cajun in Luisiana which combines European and African elements in a similar way. And in spite of all experiments Renato Borghetti remains 100% Gaúcho – with long hair, hat and wide riding breeches.

And he is one of the very few musicians from Southern Brazil who are regularly performing in Europe. “Andanças. Live in Brussels”, Renato’s first and long expected live album, appeared in 2011 and represents something like a resume of 10 years touring in Europe – a time of investiganting the musician’s own roots, discovering new ways of musical expression and makiong a lot of new friends. Borghetti is also actively securing the future of his instrument back home in Southern Brazil: at the end of 2010 the first diatonic accordion branded “Borghetti” left the recently founded “Fabrica de Gaiteiros” near Renato’s ranch – a project initiated not only to produce instruments but also to organize accordion courses for underpriviledged children and young people.

It was precisely here, at the “Factory of Accordionists”, that he recorded his latest album Gaita na Fábrica – Sounds from the Squezebox Factory, which was presented on an extensive European release tour in autumn 2016.