Having studied at the State University of Rio de Janeiro and at the Berklee College of Music, Zé Nogueira, one of the leading Brazilian instrumental musicians, started in 1975 as a saxophonist in the play Gota d'Água (Chico Buarque), having participated later in Buarque's Ópera do Malandro and Rei de Ramos. As a sideman Nogueira performed with the top artists of Brazilian music, having being a member of the Banda Zil. His experience in international festivals include Varadero (Cuba), Montreux (Switzerland), New York and Japan. His first solo album came in 1995, when he had already 20 years of career, Disfarça e Chora, having being nominated for the Sharp prize as Best Instrumental Album. In the next year he was one of the attractions of the Free Jazz Festival. Nogueira also co-wrote (with Victor Biglione) the soundtrack of Faca de Dois Gumes, and in 2001 he had a noted participation in Ouro Negro, a tribute to Moacir Santos. ~ Alvaro Neder, Rovi