A virtuoso pífano player, composer, educator and instrument maker from Pernambuco, Alexandre Rodrigues has forged one of the most distinctive paths in contemporary Brazilian instrumental music. Born in Itapissuma, Pernambuco, and now based in São Paulo, he places the pífano — a traditional flute long heard at processions, fairs and popular celebrations across northeastern Brazil — at the centre of a work shaped by original composition, improvisation and artistic research, in direct dialogue with contemporary jazz.

Alexandre began playing the pífano at 16 under the guidance of Egildo Vieira and Cacá Malaquias, before studying with master pífano players including João do Pife, Edmilson do Pífano, Biu do Pife and Marcos do Pífano. After completing postgraduate training in frevo performance, he developed an artistic approach that brings northeastern Brazil musical traditions such as frevo, maracatu de baque solto, caboclinho, baião and the Indigenous and Afro-Indigenous into dialogue with contemporary jazz and improvisation. He describes this language as “Afro-Indigenous jazz”.
His work took shape in 2020 with Pife Urbano, his debut album, featuring ten original compositions and guest appearances by Nailor Proveta, Andrea Ernest Dias, César Michiles, Cláudio Rabeca, Gilú Amaral and Antônio Marinho. The album established Alexandre as a distinctive new voice on the Brazilian instrumental scene, one that creates from tradition rather than reproducing it.

In 2025, Alexandre extended this workwith Kaeté, released on 5 September by Maracanã, Cantores del Mundo’s label dedicated to instrumental music. The title means “true forest” and pays tribute to the Indigenous people of the Itapissuma region, the artist’s hometown. Recorded as a trio — Alexandre on pífano, Tom Cykman on guitar and Felipe Gianei on double bass — the album features British musician Shabaka Hutchings, singer Renato Braz and Grupo Sabuká Kariri-Xocó. These encounters deepen the dialogue between pífano, contemporary jazz and Indigenous musical traditions that define Alexandre’s work.

During its first run of concerts, the Kaeté live show was presented in its trio format at venues including the Panela do Jazz Festival, Sesc Pompeia and Sesc Arcoverde. In early 2026, the show adopted a new quartet line-up: Alexandre on pífano, Nichollas Maia on piano, Felipe Gianei on double bass and Alisson Lima on percussion. On stage, the group moves between contrasting sound worlds, from the contemplative character of spiritual jazz to the pulse of Pernambuco’s Carnival, with improvisation and close ensemble interplay at its core.

Also in 2025, Alexandre published the Método do Pífano Brasileiro (Brazilian Pífano Method), drawing on his experience as a performer, researcher, educator and instrument maker. He has also performed at Sesc Pinheiros and Itaú Cultural, and appeared at events including the Oficina de Música de Curitiba and the Festival de Inverno de Jacobina.

Through his original compositions, research and craft as a pífano maker, Alexandre Rodrigues holds a distinctive place in contemporary Brazilian instrumental music. Rooted in northeastern Brazil, his work places the pífano in an open musical conversation with Brazil and the wider world.