Meet Grecco Buratto | Artist, Musician, Poet, Producer, Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Grecco Buratto and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Grecco, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I don’t think there was another option really… my father says he asked me once why I had chosen music – I must’ve been ten years old then – and I answered that I hadn’t, music had chosen me. I don’t remember any of this but it goes to show…

I’ve wanted to be in L.A., playing music since I was twelve after finding out about this school called Musicians Institute and became quite one-pointed focused about it throughout my adolescence.

At the same time I flirted with the idea of being a film director. I wrote screenplays – or thought I did – theater plays, tv commercials and watched thousands of films.

Then, when I was seventeen, I won a competition where you had to write a three minute guitar solo. I took that as a sign, if you will, and decided to fully focus on music since that path seemed to be clearer to pursue.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m known primarily as a guitar player but I produce, compose and write songs. I’ve released two albums as an artist, Essas Coisas Todas (2014) and Sem Palavras (2023) and a book of poetry called Só Palavras (Ed. Versiprosa) in 2023.

As a musician, my ability to play a variety of different styles, convincingly, consistently and without an “accent” is what stands out. I like to say that I’m a good ensemble actor, in that I love to serve the song and the artistic vision of the artist/producer/ composer/MD. To make it sound like a record every time I get onstage.

But perhaps the quality that sets me apart and the reason I’ve had the opportunities I’ve had, is the grounding energy I bring to the table. The steadiness, consistency, discipline and love for form and execution.

I’m not one to look back and pat myself in the back for the things I’ve done but every once in a while, a moment of reflection and recollection brings forth a few keys moments.

Recording and touring with k.d.lang in 2008 and again in 2017, performing with Lionel Richie at the NOLA Jazz Fest in 2022 with no rehearsal or soundcheck, “subbing” for composer Gustavo Santaolalla with the L.A. Phil under Gustavo Dudamel playing the guitar parts of one of my favorite movies – Amores Perros – in 2017. Recording a Live DVD with Brazilian icon Roberto Carlos at Abbey Road Studios on my birthday in 2015. Performing with Shakira in my home state in Brazil in 2011 and also at Rock In Rio later that same year. Playing at the White House for President Obama’s last state dinner with Gwen Stefani in 2016. Producing the Latin Grammy nominated album Manuscrito for my good friend Claudia Brant in 2011. Getting a call from Maurice White to go record for Earth Wind & Fire. Touring in Asia with artists JJ Lin, Leehom Wang and Jeff Chang from 2011 til 2019. Producing my partner’s latest album, Sambalismo. Performing with new age artist Snatam Kaur at the Grammy’s and the subsequent tour in 2019.

It took a lot of work, so one could say it wasn’t easy. There were challenges but there was also a lot of faith on things working out. A quality or mindset of being young – or not experienced – I believe. I remember a fellow guitarist by the name of Bibi McGill who once told me that if I made myself available, the work would present itself. I really took that to heart. Soon after that talk, I quit my job at an art gallery in Santa Monica. Coincidentally, or not, work did begin to appear…

I also remember setting out the intention to participate in a session every week, be it paid or not around 1999 and in this process, I got to meet producer Dillon Gorman who was also starting out and couldn’t pay my rate at the time. We made a deal that he’d cover expenses and I’d go record whenever he had a few tracks ready. From one of these session/tracks came the introduction to a few other producers that led to my first big sessions. So you never know what doors might open and where…

When I needed funds to finish my first album and had just been told that the artist I was working with at the time, couldn’t take me on tour the following year, I began calling all my friends to let them know that I was looking for a gig. One of the calls made was to Brendan Buckley, who has been in Shakira’s band for a couple decades. Although they were not looking for another guitar player at the time of the call, a month later, he reached out asking if he could recommend me, as things had changed. I auditioned, fit the profile they were looking for and ended up touring with her for the The Sun Comes Out Tour of 2010 and 2011. He also made a recommendation that led to all the work I did in Asia for a number of years.

I think the biggest lessons I take from all of it, are: be intentional and at the same time open and flexible. Say yes (most of the time), show up prepared, respect the dream of the person hiring you. Trust that you can deliver what they called you for – otherwise, they’d have called someone else – specially true in L.A. where good players abound. If you say “yes” to a gig, don’t show up and spend your time complaining. People want good energy around the studio, tour bus, airport, airplane, hotel, etc… Work on your craft, serve the song/project. If there’s something you really feel you must express, start your project and direct that energy towards that, so that you an serve other people’s project the way they need you to.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think it really would depend on what my friend is about… I’m definitely a people pleaser, hence being a sideman musician… Some of my favorite places in L.A. are:

The Lodge Room in HP for great, hip and cool music.

Fridays at LACMA during the summer for a col hang and good music.

Pine & Crane in DTLA for the best Dan Dan Noodles.

Olivia on Vermont in Koreatown for delicious vegan food.

Mother Tongue Restaurant. amazing food by chef Fernando Darin.

Farmer’s Market on Fairfax and 3rd, Griffith Observatory, Swingers Diner on Beverly, Cinespia at Hollywood Forever if it’s your first time in LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Too many…. but here goes an attempt at it…

My teachers at the Guitar Institute of Technology, more specifically, Kirk Smart, Ross Bolton, Lupo Gronig, Efrain Toro and Les Coulter.

Richard Turner Jr, Ron Roseboro, Jonathan DeCuir and the musicians and pastors at Second Mount Carmel Baptist Church and Victory Bible Church for being my real world school in music.

Lula Almeida, Ana Gazzola, Sonia Santos, Katia Moraes & Sambaguru and all the musicians I got to play and learn about Brazilian music during my first years as a professional musician.

Shox Hincks, Guy Harrington, Adam Hurlbut and the World Without Sundays family for being my safety net and social network and support line, for teaching me about songwriting, being in a band and striving for something together.

Renni Flores and Ilma Sacramento for more than I can ever thank and repay.

Dillon F. Gorman, Diego de Pietri, Bill Brendle, Renato Neto, Jason Edmonds, Beau Dozier, Claudia Brant, Luis Angel, Michael Woodrum, Damon Elliott and all the producers, musical directors, songwriters and composers for believing and trusting in me when perhaps I didn’t.

To Lynne Earls, Dian Purim, Krishna Booker, aorta Moreira and Flora Purim for

To Yogi Lonich, Dan Rothchild, Tony Bruno, Humberto Gattica, Brendan Buckley, Tariq Akhoni for the good word that led to the life changing experiences and opportunities I’ve been fortunate to have so far.

To my family, friends and teachers in Brazil without whom, none of this would have been possible.

Website: https://www.greccoburatto.com

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