Brazilian pianist Benjamim Taubkin has deeply connected with music and cultures through a lifetime of exploration around the world, including Colombia. With a solid career, the artist now unveils a brand-new album featuring four respected Colombian musicians. Discover his journey and the details of this remarkable dialogue between kindred lands.
Taubkin’s path began a bit later than other artists: He started studying piano seriously at 18 and became a professional three years later. At 21, he began working as a musician. At first, he played at night in piano bars and was also involved in dance and theater.
The artist always saw a strong power in collaborating with different musics and in interacting with tradition: “Community music, music whose authorship is often unknown and that the whole community celebrates, I want to be close to that music, that’s why I approach it,” he adds.
Little by little, he developed his skills and eventually started working as an instrumentalist with important musicians in Brazil, later scaling to worldwide collaborations. Throughout his career, Taubkin has recorded around 20 albums and performed with musicians from places such as Korea, Morocco, India, and South Africa, always pursuing collaborative projects that connect cultures.
Pianist Benjamim Taubkin connects Colombian and Brazilian traditions through music
Taubkin’s career has been a constant bridge between contemporary music and popular traditions, connecting with instruments from a deep passion for the latter. “For me, traditional music is like nature. As when you live in a big city — I live in São Paulo — but you need to return to nature, spend time among trees, fresh air, water,” the pianist explains.
Taubkin’s connection with Colombia dates back to 2003: “I didn’t know anything about Colombian music. And for me it had a very strong impact, especially the traditional music. I saw Etelvina Maldonado live, as well as urban music being produced at that time, groups like Puerto Candelaria, Curupira, Guafa Trio, and Ensamble Sinsonte, different genres of music that I loved. That’s where a passion began,” the pianist says.
Taubkin points out that, at that time, Colombian music was barely known in Brazil. “I had already listened to Carlos Vives’ project, those classics from the border, and I also loved it. Then I started getting closer, and I was also programming a festival in Brazil and began inviting Colombian groups,” he adds.
Co-creating Latin rhythms with a global vision in “Búsquedas”
Collaborations with artists such as saxophonist Antonio Arnedo have contributed to the evolution of this connection that led to his most recent project “Búsquedas” (Searches): a 12-track album with Colombian musicians Sixto Silgado, Fredys Arrieta, Emilsen Pacheco, and Urian Sarmiento.
The first single from the album is “El canto de las pavas” (The Song of the Turkeys), a gaita corrida by Fredys Arrieta inspired by the song of the pava congona, a bird very common in the Montes de María. The recording combines electric and acoustic piano, aiming to preserve the original spirit of the performance.
The meeting session took place in Medellín, with five hours of exploration and improvisation, followed by a careful listening process. More than a simple stage crossing, the project proposes a co-creation methodology based on oral transmission and respect for community knowledge.
The album brings together traditional Colombian music (from the Pacific and other regions) in dialogue with piano, combining electric and acoustic instruments with contemporary harmonies, musical phrases, and occasional improvisation — all while always respecting what the local musicians are doing. Listeners will hear gaita and bullerengue traditions intertwined with new perspectives.
Deep listening becomes an artistic practice, and each encounter gives rise to works and arrangements that transcend styles and musical genres. For 2026, a second phase is planned, including residencies, performances, and collaborations with archives, music schools, and regional festivals.
A dialogue beyond borders and musical styles
Taubkin is a musician with a career spanning decades, dedicated to building bridges between popular traditions and contemporary languages. His connection with Colombia reflects how respect for local traditions combines with improvisation and collective creation, generating a bridge between distinct musical cultures.
“It’s almost as if the person from India speaks and I reply in Portuguese, but in music we understand each other. I think music is a language that has a capacity for communication beyond words. They can express something from their culture, and I respond with something from mine,” he explains.
Taubkin highlights that these encounters allow for the creation of unique and unforgettable moments. “We achieve something that is a true meeting, and that is very beautiful, and it happens many times in an unforgettable way,” he says, emphasizing the richness of collaboration among musicians from different parts of the world.
Beyond music, this new Colombian-Brazilian project represents the opportunity to preserve and showcase Colombian traditions with a key element of innovation. With his international experience and sensitivity as a Latin musician, Taubkin ensures that his pieces are a living testament to the value of listening, learning, and co-creating.