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Ramon Montanhaur – Boyya

The reason it’s taken me so long since the last review is because I didn’t want to take this CD out of my player! Ramon Montanhaur is a powerhouse on the drums. Boyya is beautiful mix of jazz, fusion and Brazilian compositions all in one package. Boyya is a great CD not only for listening but for learning feel through these different styles. Feel is really an under appreciated facet to drumming, most just focus on the technical aspects of performing patterns. The feel is what gets you the gig and helps you keep it! And Boyya is loaded with it…

Boyya’s compositions were recorded with precision quality and with great musicians. I am always a big fan of a great bass player, Gilberto de Syllos and Sizão Machado are top notch! There is literally not a bad track on the album. I couldn’t pick a favorite because they are all great and produced well.

You can learn more about Ramon Montanhaur and Boyya at: www.ramonmontanhaur.com

Ramon’s Biography:

He began his studies when he was only 12 and soon became a professional, having worked with the most varied music styles since then. He has been instructed by Brasa, Jayme Pladeval, Paulo Campos and Lílian Carmona.

Ramon has played with Hector Costita, Idriss Boudrioua, Yuka Kido, Maria Alcina, Vitor Alcântara, Daniel Alcântara, Léa Freire, Jarbas Barbosa, Cleiton & Camargo, Companhia Filarmônica de São Paulo, Fabiana Cozza, Mandu Sarará, Pedro La Colina & Banda Madretierra, Fernando Ferrer, Célia, Renato Consorte, Misty, Grupo Carcará conducted by Benito Juarez, Virgínia Rosa, Vanessa Falabella, THO, Daisy Cordeiro, Lucinha Lins, Izzy Gordon, Laércio de Freitas, Terra Brasil, Graça Cunha, Alaíde Costa, Consiglia La Torre, grupo Bons Tempos and Raul de Souza. From 1992 to 2006 he was a member of the band that accompanied singer and composer Johnny Alf during his tours and recordings. He was at the Free Jazz Festival in 1996. His drums also appear in the songbooks of Ary Barroso, João Donato and Tom Jobim. Since 2003, Ramon has been working with Orquestra Heartbreakers and there he has been with such artists as Jair Rodrigues, Jair Oliveira , Liena Hernandez , Paula Lima, Simoninha, Paulo Ricardo, Zé Ricardo, Sandra de Sá, Jane Duboc , Ana Carolina, Baby do Brasil, Preta Gil, Vanderléia , Margareth Menezes to name a few.

He recorded the video “Brazilian Duet – Ultrapassando Limites” (Brazilian Duet – Exceeding Limits) along with drummer Alexandre Cunha in 1998, showing innovative fusions of percussion and drums.

Here, some of the workshops coordinated by Ramon:

-I & II Modern Drummer – Drums show
-Batuka 1997
-Drummer Festival of Vale do Paraíba
-IV & V Bateras Beat Brasília
-Cascavel Jazz Festival
-Modern Drummer Festival Brazil 2002
-Ourinhos Music Festival
-Bateras in Cabo Frio
-Book release “Bateria e Contrabaixo na Música Brasileira” at EMT Auditorium in São Paulo.
-Worshiping and Worshipers conference of Integrity Music 2006

Ramon has constantly been in demand at studios, recording albuns of artists like Aline Barros, Elaine de Jesus, Suelem de Jesus, Grupo Comboio, Cristina Mel, Soraya Moraes, Jozyane, Mauricéia, Cacique Jazz Combo, Virgínia Rosa, Marco Aurélio, Rayssa & Ravel, Armando Filho, Andrea Fontes, Celina Borges, Marcelo Onofri, Marcílio Menezes and several others.

His first solo CD, Boyya (Mix House), was released in 2000 and features Hermeto Paschoal, Mané Silveira and Sizão Machado. He also has written a book with Gilberto de Syllos, “Bateria e Contrabaixo na Música Brasileira“ (Drums and Bass in Brazilian Music) Editora Lumiar. It was released in 2003 and has now its second edition.

He owns Drumfeel Escola de Música (Drumfeel Music School) in Campinas (SP) and is a columnist for a drums and percussion specialized magazine, Revista Batera e Percussão. He has been with Orquestra of SBT (a major Brazilian TV channel) in a show called “Rei Majestade” (Your Majesty), where he has played with renowned figures of Brazilian Music.
Ramon has just released his second CD “SAMBASÓ” and plays with singer Luiza Possi who is touring with her third album, “Escuta”.