Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil Mario started his musical education at 13 , playing Bossa Nova guitar.  He switched to electric bass one year later and took lessons at Zimbo Trio’s School - C.L.A.M., quickly moving on to playing gigs in the local Jazz scene.  He took lessons with Nico Assumpcao and in 1983 was accepted at Universidade Estadual de Campinas where he completed a B.Mus in Composition.  Whilst at university he became involved in the creation of the Youth Symphonic Orchestra of Campinas where he played as lead bass for 3 years.

Back in Sao Paulo he was invited to play with the ‘Heartbreakers’, a condensed 9 piece jazz band.  With them he played and researched the music of Duke Ellington exclusively for 4 years, as well as the Afro-Caribbean forms for 3 consecutive years, moving on to pre-Bossa Nova music.   He recorded 7 CDs with the HB’s acting as arranger and MD as well. He also performed with many of the greatest singers in Brazilian Music such as Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento, Nana Caymmi, Zizi Possi and many more.

He lead the sextet ‘Hard Bop & Cafe’, and was winner of the young jazz groups competition ‘Free Som’ in 1990 who took part in the ‘Free Jazz Festival 1991’, the biggest Jazz Festival in Brazil, performing along side the Winton Marsalis Septet, Ahmad Jahmal Quartet and Kenny Burrell & Jimmy Smith.

He was invited by Chucho Valdez leader of Irakere with the HB’s to perform at the Beny More International Festival in Cuba 1993, along side some of the best Afro Cuban Bands in the world.

He performed at the Barbados International Jazz Festival in 1995 with the HB’s.

Mario moved to Scotland for studies, where was invited to join the Tommy Smith Sextet Beasts of Scotland , and later , the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.   He has played with many of the leading jazz musicians in the U.K such as : Tommy Smith, Kenny Wheeler, Carol Kidd, Norma Winston, Louise Gibson, Suzanne Bonnar, Phil Bancroft, Andy Panaiy, Tom Bancroft, Jamie Anderson, Brian Kellock, Steve Hamilton, John Rae, Clark Tracey, Tom Gordon, Jason Rebello, Gene Calderazzo, Kevin McKenzie, Alex Yellowlees, Nigel Clark, Malcom MacFarlane, Paul Harrison, Paddy Flaherty, Dave Milligan, Guy Barker, Eddie Severn, Gerard Presencer, Colin Steele, Andor Jensen, Claude Deppa, Dominic Aldis and Adam Glasser among others. He has also played with leading North American artists such as Bobby Watson, Scott Hamilton, Joe Locke, Valery Ponomarev and Madeline Eastman.

Mario is also involved in Jazz Education, having done several workshops about Latin American Music throughout Scotland.  He also taught at the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland Summer Course 1999, The Napier Jazz Summer Course 1999 and Dundee Play Jazz.