The trombonist José Alberto Rodrigues Matos, known as Zé da Velha, considered one of the greatest names in choro music in the country, died this Friday (26). The information was confirmed at Leaf by friend and collaborator Silvério Pontes.
According to him, the musician’s health deteriorated after a fall on the sidewalk at home and a hip operation. He couldn’t resist a bacterial infection.
The wake is scheduled for Saturday (27) at 10:15 a.m., with burial at 12:15 p.m., at the Inhaúma cemetery, north of Rio de Janeiro.
At 18, he joined the regional group Pixinguinha. The two became close friends as they lived near each other in the north of Rio. A pillar of national music, Pixinguinha directly influenced Zé da Velha’s way of playing the trombone, making him a disciple of the great master.
The trombonist has also played with other choro references, including Jacob do Bandolim, Benedito Lacerda, Waldir Azevedo, Altamiro Carrilho and Dino Sete Cordas.
He was part of the choro generation that developed and revolutionized the genre in the last century. His way of playing the trombone, giving a dimension to the instrument in choro, has made him a reference.
Zé da Velha sang counter-songs with his trombone, that is, complements to the original melody, enriching the music with his own style and language.
Born in Aracaju on June 1, 1941 — although his certificate appears to be born on April 4, 1942 — at the age of eight he moved with his family to Rio de Janeiro.
He first developed the trombone with his father, a tailor and musician who loved wind instruments, then in a small orchestra. He also took lessons from the age of 16 with different music teachers.
At the end of the 1950s, he joined the Velha Guarda group, led by Alcebíades Barcelos, known as Bide, a historic figure in samba. In fact, it was Bide who introduced Zé da Velha to Pixinguinha. The ensemble included figures such as João da Baiana.
It was from this relationship with the Velha Guarda group that he got his nickname Zé da Velha, at the age of 18. At the time, he worked at the airline Cruzeiro do Sul and also at Varig. Then he worked at Alitalia (he worked in the reservations sector), retiring from the Italian airline.
In 1965, he met Jacob do Bandolim, another choro legend, and they began playing together. In the 1970s, he joined some musical groups, such as Sambalândia, in addition to being called upon to record albums, such as the classic “Chorando aos Dedos” (1976), by Joel Nascimento. In 1977, he formed the choro group Chapéu de Palha.
In 1978, he recorded another pearl of the choro, the album “Chorando Baixinho: um Encontro Histórico”, released the following year, with him, Abel Ferreira (clarinet), Copinha (flute), Joel Nascimento (mandolin), Dino Sete Cordas, César Faria and Carlinhos Leite (guitars), Jonas (cavaquinho), Jorginho do Pandeiro and Arthur Moreira Lima (piano).
Zé da Velha was also very close to the conductor, clarinetist and saxophonist Paulo Moura, notably playing on the musician’s various albums. The album “Choro na Praça” (1977), with the participation of Waldir Azevedo, Abel Ferreira, Copinha and Joel Nascimento, recorded live at the Teatro João Caetano, in Rio de Janeiro, is considered another anthological disc of Brazilian music with the participation of Zé da Velha.
In 1986, he met the trumpeter Silvério Pontes. Years later, the duo would release six albums: “Só Gafieira” (1995), “Tudo Dança” (1998), Ele & Eu (2000), “Samba Instrumental” (2003), “Só Pixinguinha” (2006) and “Ouro e Prata” (2012).
The albums with Zé da Velha on trombone and Silvério Pontes on trumpet are considered important records of Brazilian music with wind instruments in terms of style, interpretation and improvisation. The success of the work earned them the nickname “the smallest big band in the world”.
“Zé da Velha was the link between the old guard and current music. He has the particularity of playing, of serving. He plays for the music. A master,” Silvério Pontes told Leaf.
Zé da Velha retired from the stage 7 years ago. During the pandemic, he suffered a fall that led him to undergo hip surgery, compromising his mobility. He also began to suffer from dysphagia. With frequent hospitalizations, he had two pneumonias between June and July 2025.
He lived his entire life in the Olaria neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. The trombonist had three children – Denise, Deise and Eduardo – with Dona Lurdes, who died more than ten years ago.
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