From the soul of Brazil to the heart of Europe, Bruno Scantamburlo has built a musical career that connects traditions, languages and cultures. An Italian-Brazilian guitarist, cavaquinho and mandolin player, arranger and producer based in Florence, his work has unfolded for over two decades between Brazil and Europe, exploring the meeting points of samba, choro, bossa nova and jazz.
Trained in music at the Brazilian Conservatory of Music in Rio de Janeiro — where he also taught — Bruno began his professional career collaborating with some of the most important names in Brazilian music. Over the years he has worked as a musician, arranger, producer and sound engineer in concerts and recordings with artists such as Toquinho, MPB4, Erasmo Carlos, Duofel, Leandro Braga, Hélio Delmiro, Toninho Horta and Roberto Menescal.
Since settling in Italy in 2014, his artistic activity has expanded across the European scene, collaborating with leading Italian artists such as Irene Grandi, Drusilla Foer, Stefano Bollani and Narciso Parigi.
Recent collaborations include playing on the recording of the single Cosa sognano gli angeli with Irene Grandi; appearing as guitarist on TV2000’s broadcast L’ora Solare in Rome; and contributing to the collective project Vaia Firenze con me, alongside Lorenzo Baglioni, Gianmaria Vassallo and Wikipedro.
Bruno has performed at renowned festivals and clubs including Jazz & Image Colosseo, Cittadella Jazz Festival, Borgo Incantato, Jazz nella Rocca and Pop Cult Festival. He has also performed at major Italian jazz clubs such as Alexanderplatz Jazz Club and BFlat, in addition to tours, workshops and masterclasses dedicated to Brazilian music in international contexts.
As an arranger and producer, Bruno’s work stands out with particular distinction. He signed the arrangements of the album Italia, America e ritorno by singer Lorenzo Andreaggi — the final artistic work of Narciso Parigi — featuring Stefano Bollani, Irene Grandi, Finaz and Bachi (Bandabardò). With Andreaggi and his band he also recorded three songs from the Disney repertoire, notably as arranger of a reinterpretation of The Jungle Book, a project that highlights his sophisticated writing and his dialogue between popular tradition and orchestral language.
His work as an arranger also includes an original arrangement of The Girl from Ipanema, written at the invitation of the celebrated Italian classical guitarist Edoardo Catemario — a collaboration that confirms his presence in the world of concert guitar as well.
In 2021 he debuted the Bruno Scantamburlo Trio, alongside Bernardo Sacconi (bass) and Piero Borri (drums), at the Un Paese a Sei Corde festival on Lake Maggiore. The following year he released the album Brazilian Guitar from Rio (2022), a tribute to the great Brazilian guitarist Zé Menezes. In 2023 he recorded guitar and mandolin on the track Amore Boh! by Drusilla Foer and Franco Godi, included on the album DRU.
In Bologna, Bruno is also the co-founder of Roda de Samba do Careca, created with Marco Catinaccio and Silvia Baraldi — a musical gathering that brings together Brazilian and Italian artists to celebrate the samba tradition. Since 2022 he has also been part of Rionapology, alongside actor Peppe Lanzetta — a musical and theatrical creation connecting the peripheries of Naples and Rio de Janeiro through music, storytelling and performance.
With a musical language that moves through samba, choro, bossa nova and jazz, Bruno Scantamburlo has developed an identity marked by technical refinement, interpretative sensitivity and a deeply multicultural vision — both on stage and in the studio.