Art Around Sessions: Novos Caminhos

Novos Caminho (New Ways) is the vibrant meeting of two leading voices of the new generation of Brazilian instrumental music: Ian Coury (10-string mandolin) and Igor Souza (7-string guitar). United by their love of Choro and Samba—genres that are the soul of Brazil—the two artists combine technical precision, creativity, and sensitivity to deliver a performance that honors tradition while reinventing it.

Despite their different backgrounds, Ian and Igor were captivated early on by the richness of Brazilian music. This passion brought them together spontaneously at their first meeting, where, between choros and sambas, an immediate connection emerged—both musical and personal. From this affinity was born an artistic proposal that builds a bridge between past, present, and future, reaffirming the relevance of Choro and Samba in contemporary languages.

Ian Coury, 23, is a virtuoso 10-string mandolinist with international experience, performing in Brazil, Panama, and the U.S. with artists like Paquito D’Rivera, Hamilton de Holanda, and Toninho Horta. He holds a degree in Contemporary Writing and Production from Berklee College of Music and a Master’s in Contemporary Performance with a concentration in Global Jazz at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. Awarded Best Instrumentalist at the National FM Radio Festival in 2020, he released his debut album Bora Brasil in 2022.

Igor Souza, 24, is a 7-string guitarist, arranger, music producer, and holds a master’s degree from UNIRIO. His resume includes work with Esperanza Spalding, Caetano Veloso, and Xande de Pilares. Also recognized for his work in Rio’s Carnival scene, he has appeared on Globo TV broadcasts and, in 2025, released his first album in partnership with Saulo Fernandes under the Japanese label Pyramid Label.

The Novos Caminhos show features original compositions and creative reinterpretations of Choro and Samba classics, exploring sophisticated dialogues between guitar and mandolin with improvisation and interpretive freedom that echo the spirit of global jazz. The goal is to deliver a live experience that is at once deeply Brazilian and open to the world—with modern arrangements designed to captivate diverse audiences, from traditional listeners to those curious about new sounds.

More than just a show, Novos Caminhos is an artistic manifesto that celebrates the
continuity and renewal of Brazilian instrumental music. It is an invitation to travel through the roots and possibilities of sound, building bridges between generations and horizons.

Presented by Roswell Arts Fund and Friends of Mimosa Hall & Gardens, Art Around: Sessions offers an up-close live music experience inside one of Roswell’s most iconic venues. Every ticket includes wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and light refreshments.