Formed in 2021, Caros Amigos (“Dear Friends”) brings a refreshingly unique musical stye to Austin’s famous music scene. Caros Amigos specializes in the lively, toe-tapping traditional music of Brazilian Choro. A “cousin” of samba – choro is mainly an instrumental music featuring upbeat rhythms, lilting melodies, and virtuosic musicianship. Caros Amigos’ song list consists of standards by Brazilian masters as well as originals by the group and their “caros amigos.”
Each member of this distinctive band brings their personal approach to music-making which when combined, creates a brilliant whirlwind of color and technical skill:
Classically-trained flutist Julie Koidin, arrived in Austin in 2020 from Chicago and is one of few U.S. scholars in Brazilian choro, earning her DM from Northwestern University. She’s authored 2 books on choro and in 2016 produced and hosted the WFMT Radio Network’s nationally-broadcast documentary, “A Joyful Cry: Brazil’s Choro Music.” She’s received 8 Fulbright awards including 2 to Brazil, and has performed throughout Brazil in 24 tours. Her CD, “Juntos” with Paulinho Garcia/Dois no Choro was in the first-round nominations for the 2003 Latin Grammy’s “Best Brazilian Roots” category. In 2010 she participated on Paulinho Garcia’s “My Very Life” CD which was in the finals for the 2010 Grammy Awards’ “Best Latin Album.”
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Multi-instrumentalist/saxophonist, Scotty McIntosh, originally from Montreal, Canada and arriving in Austin in 1998, is one of the most prolific musician/composers in Austin. Scotty’s works are featured in Caros Amigos’ playlist. Three of his compositions/arrangements were part of Grupo Fantasma’s album, “El Existential,” which received the Grammy Award for “Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album” in 2011. He performs with a wide breadth of musical groups in styles ranging from jazz to salsa – Ta Mere, La Tribu, Quartetto Gelato, Son Y No Son, Leti Garza and Susanna Sharpe, to name a few. His band Beat Soup with Jeff Bloom pushes the boundaries of musical fusion and innovation. He also serves as Music Director for James Polk’s Centerpeace.
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Guitarist Adam Carney is originally from Springfield, Missouri and arrived in Austin in 2009. Adam performs on two instruments rarely heard in the U.S. — the 7-string guitar and the beautiful “harp-guitar.” Adam is Caros Amigos’ main arranger and composer. His music has been featured in movies, video games, and TV shows such as “Archer” on the FX network. He is also the founder and director of the Capitol City Guitar Camp in Austin and teaches guitar in the Childbloom Guitar Program in Austin and Round Rock.
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Percussionist Sergio Santos, a native of Santos, Brazil, has been a fixture in Austin’s famous music scene since the mid-1980s. He specializes in a broad range of Brazilian and Latin American styles and instruments. Sergio was a member of two of Austin’s earliest Brazilian dance bands – Quizumba and the award-winning Susanna Sharpe and Samba Police, both performing for crowds of thousands throughout Texas and at Austin’s annual Carnaval Brasileiro. Prior to joining Caros Amigos, Sergio was a member of the eclectic Latin Quartet, Catavento, the choro band, Crying Monkeys and the forró band, Forró de Quintal. He continues to perform with diverse Brazilian-music artists in Austin.
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Mandolinist and guitarist Max Robertson, a native of Austin, Texas, spent much of his professional career performing throughout the Dallas-Ft. Worth area before returning to his hometown in 2025. Comfortable in a variety of musical settings, Max performs traditional jazz, swing, manouche jazz, western swing, bluegrass, country/Americana, and Brazilian choro, samba, and bossa nova. Over the years, Max has performed in festivals and at various concert venues throughout Texas including with numerous ensembles including La Pompe, Sassafras Swing set, the World Jazz Project, the Marcelo Berstovoy Quarrtet, Ryan Glenn and the Honky Tonk Heat, the Matthews Banks group, the Gypsy Playboys, Nitty Gritty Jazz Band, and There I Ruined It.
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Percussionist Bruno Vinezof, a native of Olinda and Recife, Brazil, specializes in the traditional rhythms of Northeast Brazil, including maracatu, forró, coco, and afoxé. Now based in Austin, Texas, he blends these deep Brazilian traditions with influences from U.S. and world music, creating a dynamic and versatile approach. Bruno is the founder and director of Grupo Ladeira, a percussion group that performs with the Brazilian ensmeble, Mente Clara, and also collaborates with groups such as Seu Jacinto, Forró de Quintal and Grupo Massa. He’s also performed with renowned Brazilian artists such as Renata Rosa, Spok Frevo, and Maciel Salu, to name a few. He’s performed with Austin-based Adrian Quesada, the Latin Dukes, Bamako Airlines, Nossas Novas, and Daniel Fears, amongst others.
