With 15 albums released in Brazil and several others worldwide by the year 2000, Nonato Luiz is a respected Brazilian violonista (acoustic guitarist) who mixes classical influences in his rootsy playing. Since the '80s, Luiz has toured annually through Europe, where he is highly regarded. At three, he took up the cavaquinho. At 15, he was already the second violinist of the Symphonic Orchestra of Fortaleza. At that age, he opted for the violão (acoustic guitar) as his definitive instrument. In 1975, having already begun to compose, Nonato Luiz won the first prize in a violão contest promoted by TV Tupi (São Paulo). In that year, he also participated in the Winter Festival of Campos do Jordão (SP), finishing his studies with Turíbio Santos. In 1978, Luiz toured Brasil with Darcy Vila Verde and settled in Rio de Janeiro. His first album, Terra, came in 1980, with the participation of Fagner, João Donato, and Bimba. In 1982, he recorded Diálogo with the flamenco guitarist Pedro Soler. With Mercedes Sosa, Paco de Lucia, and Rafael Alberti, he recorded a tribute album dedicated to Pablo Picasso, which was also released in Europe the same year. In 1984, he recorded another international album, in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 1985, Luiz toured Italy, France, and Austria, and played in the Mozarteum, in Salzburg for the first time. In the same period, he recorded his album O Porto, in Paris, with his own compositions. Returning to Brazil, he worked with Chico Buarque, Fagner, Nara Leão, Luiz Gonzaga, and Amelinha. In 1987, he recorded Guitarra Brasileira, released in his tour through Germany and Austria. Going back to Brazil in 1988, he recorded an album with Milton Nascimento's songs. In 1989, he toured Austria, Italy, France, and Germany, recording the album Mosaico. In 1991, he toured Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany and recorded Retrato do Brasil, released worldwide. Luiz also gave solo concerts (Cecília Meireles Hall), toured Brazil with Fagner, and toured solo through the north and northeast. In the same year, he performed in the Free Jazz Festival. After his then-annual European tour in 1992, Luiz had a season sponsored by UNESCO at the Salle de Cinema (Paris, France), where he recorded "Terra à Vista," the official theme of the world ecological conference held in Rio, known as ECO 92. In the next year, Nonato Luiz toured five Turkish cities along with Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain. In 1996, he participated in the It's Time for Brazil festival in New York, NY, with Manassés and the accordionist Waldonys, with whom he had recorded a live CD in the previous year. His compositions were compiled and released by Henry Lemoine (Paris, France). ~ Alvaro Neder