Yamandu Costa

Yamandu Costa (born January 24, 1980, in Passo Fundo), sometimes spelled Yamandú, is a Brazilian guitarist and composer. His main instrument is the violão de sete cordas, the seven-string Brazilian classical guitar.

Costa began studying guitar at age seven with his father, Algacir Costa, leader of the group Os Fronteiriços, and mastered the instrument under the guidance of Lúcio Yanel. At fifteen, Costa began studying folk music from southern Brazil, as well as music from Argentina and Uruguay. Influenced by the music of Radamés Gnattali, he went on to study other Brazilian musicians such as Baden Powell de Aquino, Tom Jobim and Raphael Rabello. At seventeen, he played for the first time in São Paulo at the Banco do Brasil Cultural Circuit.

Yamandu Costa gained greater international recognition after appearing in Mika Kaurismäki's 2005 documentary film Brasileirinho. His varied styles include choro, bossa nova, milonga, tango, samba and chamamé. His 2019 album Vento Sul was named one of the 25 best Brazilian albums of the second half of 2019 by the São Paulo Association of Art Critics. In 2021, his album Toquinho e Yamandu Costa - Bachianinha (Live at Rio Montreux Jazz Festival) (with Toquinho) won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Album.