Scoreload

Jacob do Bandolim was a legendary Brazilian composer, virtuoso mandolin player, and bandleader, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the choro genre.Born in Rio de Janeiro, Jacob Pick Bittencourt adopted the stage name Jacob do Bandolim (Jacob of the Mandolin).Self-taught on the mandolin, he achieved extraordinary technical mastery and became a central figure in Brazilian instrumental music, particularly choro.He founded and led the renowned regional ensemble Época de Ouro, dedicated to preserving and performing traditional choro.A meticulous composer and arranger, his works like 'Noites Cariocas,' 'Assanhado,' 'Vibrações,' and 'Dôce de Coco' are choro standards.He also had a successful parallel career as a police investigator.

• Jacob was famously meticulous and demanding, both as a musician striving for perfection and as a police investigator known for his thoroughness.
• He had a deep passion for researching and preserving the history of choro and its pioneers, actively collecting old recordings and sheet music.
• His musical career ran parallel to his work as a highly respected police investigator (delegado) for the Rio de Janeiro police force.
• His sudden death from a heart attack at age 51, while preparing for a rehearsal with Época de Ouro, shocked the Brazilian music world.
• A persistent anecdote, though difficult to fully verify, suggests a long-standing rivalry or feud with fellow choro icon Pixinguinha, stemming from Jacob's strong opinions about Pixinguinha's later saxophone style diverging from traditional choro; some sources claim they reconciled shortly before Jacob's death, while others suggest the tension remained.