Wood and brass quintet devoted to exploring the connections between Brazilian popular and classical music, the Quinteto Villa-Lobos started its activities in 1962 by the initiative of bassoonist Airton Barbosa, backing up the musical mission Caravana Cultural de Pascoal Carlos Magno. Until 1964, the group played in several Brazilian regions and also in Latin America. In 1966, their first LP was recorded, Quinteto Villa-Lobos. Also in that year they performed, together with Edu Lobo, Nara Leão, and Tamba Trio, at the show 5 na Bossa at the Zum Zum club in Rio. The show was recorded live and released as an LP. In 1972, the quintet recorded, with Luizinho Eça, the LP Vanguarda. Five years later, it dedicated the LP Quinteto Villa-Lobos Interpreta to choro masters like Ernesto Nazareth, Zequinha de Abreu, Paulinho da Viola, Pixinguinha, K-Ximbinho, Patápio Silva, and others. In 1979, the group recorded the soundtrack of the film O Grande Palhaço. In 2000, commemorating 35 years of their career, the quintet launched the CD Quinteto em Forma de Choros, recorded in 1997. With Marco Pereira, Gilson Peranzzetta, Joyce, Guinga, and Água de Moringa, in 2001 the group recorded the CD Quinteto Villa-Lobos Convida, recording new songs by Joyce, Guinga, Peranzzetta, and Marco Pereira, and classics by Pixinguinha, Jacob do Bandolim, and Ernesto Nazareth. ~ Alvaro Neder