Ricardo Vignini was born in the city of São Paulo and is one of the best known viola players in Brazil. He is a producer and researcher of popular culture from the south eastern region of the country. As part of the Matuto Moderno band, he recorded four CDs and participated in the main viola events throughout Brazil. He is the owner of the Folguedo label which is dedicated to the Brazilian country music. He is under contract with the American string company D’addario in Brasil. He was one of the lecturers of the “First Country Viola Seminar in Brazil - 2008”, held in Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais.  He shared the stage with American musicians, Bob Brozman – Brazilian tour in 2003 and Woody Mann in 2006 and 2008. In 2006, he also played with Christiaan Oyens and harmonica player,  Sergio Duarte.

Accompanies singers, Kátya Teixeira and Maria Dapaz, does duos with viola player, Zé Helder, has been teaching country viola and electric guitar for 18 years and has produced CDs for a number of artists during the last 12 years. He produced three CDs and one DVD of Índio Cachoeira of whom he also organized the tour “Viola Caipira two generations” in 2009.  Became well known for his country viola versions of songs by the artists, Jimi Hendrix, Metallica and Led Zeppelin.


“The viola player, Ricardo Vignini is one of the members of the Matuto Moderno quintet and brought an original approach to the world of string instruments. He was able to join the pure sound of the 10 string viola with the electrified universe of the electric guitar."

Guitar Player magazine - December/2003

Na Zoada do Arame is the first instrumental CD by viola and electric guitar player, Ricardo Vignini, member of the Matuto Moderno group for the last 11 years, who contributed to the work of a number of artists. 

Of the 11 cuts, 6 were written by him, 3 are are in partnership with musicians, Índio Cachoeira,  Woody Mann and Adriano Grineberg and only one was written by Fortaleza. On all of the songs, Vignini plays either alone or with only one other person.

Vignini has a strong blues influence, due to his experience with harmonica player, Jefferson Gonçalves, guitarist, Woody Mann and piano player, Adriano Grineberg.  The Brazilian root caipira (country) music is also present on cut, Proseando, in partnership with Índio Cachoeira, and on Polca Paraguaia with harpist, Rogério Temporini. Two instruments also transmit a discreet Indian sound, which are the slide guitar and a viola, which was made to order, called Cabacítara, assembled by the viola player, and luthier, Levi Ramiro.  

  Launched by the Folguedo label, owned by Vignini himself, who has been producing a number of (caipira) root works for the last 7 years and has his distribution carried out by Tratore.  

Listen the album HERE