Mauro Refosco | |
|---|---|
 Refosco performing withAtoms for Peace in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1966-10-16)16 October 1966 (age 59) Joaçaba,Santa Catarina, Brazil |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1994–present |
Mauro Refosco (born 16 October 1966), is a Brazilianpercussionist. He is best known for his work with singerDavid Byrne and the Americanrock bandRed Hot Chili Peppers. He was a member of the experimentalsupergroupAtoms for Peace – featuringThom Yorke andFlea – and theforró bandForro in the Dark. Refosco was also briefly a member ofDirty Projectors.
Since 2019, Refosco has appeared as one of the principal musicians in theBroadway show,American Utopia, featuring David Byrne and his music.
Refosco was born in the southern Brazilian state ofSanta Catarina. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Percussion from theSão Paulo State University in 1990 and moved to New York City, in 1992, to pursue additional education. He graduated from theManhattan School of Music with a Masters in Percussion in 1994.[1][2]
After completing his masters program he started recording and performing with various American artists.
He has written and produced music forOff-Broadway productions, composed soundtracks for films and performed as a member of various bands.
Forro in the Dark is a New York City-based group of Brazilian musicians who play a modern update onforró, a traditional music that originates from the Northeast of Brazil[3] On 16 October 2002 (Refosco's birthday), he invited some friends over for a forró-style jam session atNublu, a nightclub located in theEast Village district of New York City. The group was such a hit that they started a weeklyresidency at the club.[4] Their public prominence increased due to their extended residency at Nublu, where they came into contact with prominent New York influenceDavid Byrne, who helped propel further recognition for the band when they collaborated on Forro in the Dark's 2006 albumBonfires of São João.[5]
The band have released two albums and one EP so far including 2006'sBonfires of São João, 2008'sDia de Roda EP and 2009'sLight a Candle.
In 2009, Refosco joinedAtoms for Peace, a supergroup formed by theRadiohead singerThom Yorke to perform songs from Yorke's debut solo album,The Eraser (2006).[6] Refosco and the band recreated Yorke's electronic music with live instrumentation.[7] They toured the United States in 2010,[8][9] and released an album,Amok, in 2013.[7]Amok was followed that year by a tour of Europe, the US and Japan.[10]
In 2011, Refosco performed on several tracks on theRed Hot Chili Peppers' albumI'm with You along with theb-sides compilation,I'm Beside You, which was released in 2013. Refosco joined the band's touring lineup as a percussionist in 2011 for theirI'm with You World Tour. During the band's encores, Refosco along with the band's drummer,Chad Smith would usually start off with a lengthy drum-percussion jam showing off both musicians' abilities. Refosco was featured on all of the band's live releases from the tour, which came to an end in April 2013.[11] He would again hit the road with the band for another tour with dates all over the world scheduled fromMay 2013 to June 2014. Refosco provided percussion on two songs for their 2016 albumThe Getaway however he would not join them for the tour to support the album. Refosco made a surprise appearance during the band's 20 July 2017 performance in Rome where he provided percussion on "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie".[12]
Since 1994, he has toured withDavid Byrne,[3] most recently on his 2025 tour in support of his albumWho Is the Sky?.[13]
Refosco has also been featured as a member of the music department, mainly as a percussionist on various movie and television projects including the 2007 animated movie,Surf's Up in which he wrote the song, "Forrowest" with Forro in the Dark. The song also is featured on the soundtrack.
Refosco has also recorded withDirty Projectors ontheir self-titled album.
Refosco appears onFlea's 2026 solo debut albumHonora
withAtoms for Peace
withDavid Byrne
withDirty Projectors
withFrancesco Motta
withFlea
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