New Ways - Ian Coury & Igor Souza Duo (Colorado Brazil Fest)

Colorado Brazil Fest is excited to welcome the Ian Coury & Igor Souza Duo as part of its concert series. Novos Caminhos (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 an artistic proposal was born, which builds a bridge between the past, present, and the future, reaffirming the relevance of Choro and Samba in contemporary Brazilian music.

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.

Artist Bio

Ian Coury, 23, is a virtuoso 10-string Brazilian mandolinist with international experience, having performed in Brazil, Panama, and the U.S. with artists like Paquito D’Rivera, Hamilton de Holanda, and Toninho Horta. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Writing and Production from Berklee College of Music and a Master's in Contemporary Performance with a concentration on Global Jazz at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. In 2020 Ian was awarded the Best Instrumentalist at the National FM Radio Festival (Festival de Música da Rádio Nacional), a prominent Brazilian music festival dedicated to promoting original music. In 2022 he released his debut album Bora Brasil.

Igor Souza, 24, is a 7-string guitarist, arranger, music producer, and holds a Master's degree from UNIRIO (the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro). He has worked with prominent musical figures in both the U.S. and Brazil, including Esperanza Spalding, Caetano Veloso, and Xande de Pilares. Recognized for his work in Rio’s Carnival scene, he has appeared on TV Globo—the largest commercial television network in Brazil and Latin America, and in 2025, released his first album in partnership with Saulo Fernandes (well-known Brazilian Axé singer) under the Japanese label Pyramid Label.

Doors 6:00pm. Show 7:00pm

Full bar on premises; Plenty of free parking; Lyft and Uber friendly!

About Roots Music Project Foundation

Roots Music Project Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit local music incubator based in Boulder, Colorado. We believe in the power of music to make the world a better place. All music starts locally. We empower artists, fans, and venues to connect and create a thriving and inspiring local music scene.

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