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Luiz Simas
Composer, pianist, singer, arranger
About Me
LUIZ SIMAS
Short bio
Luiz Simas was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a composer, singer and pianist,
and he has performed and recorded with many of the top Brazilian artists. Many of his
songs have been recorded in Brazil and in the US, and he also composed several
soundtracks for tv. Luiz was the first musician in Rio to use a synthesizer, and he
composed and recorded sound effects for several tv and radio networks, including the
trademark sound for Brazil�s principal network (TV Globo).
Living in New York since 1989, he has performed as a solo singer/pianist, as well
as
with his own group in various jazz clubs, jazz festivals, universities and music halls,
both
in the US and in Europe, in the Caribbean (Jamaica, Trinidad, British Virgin Islands) and
in
Brazil.
He�s also a very sought-after music director and arranger, having worked in the
US
and In Brazil in numerous recordings and live performances with several jazz and
Brazilian
jazz artists.
Luiz is also a teacher of Brazilian popular music history, having given several
courses
at CUNY�s graduate center on the subject.
Selected Performances (solo or with his group)
Music Halls and Universities
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
Rutgers University
Roger Williams University (RI)
Spanish Institute
Consulate of Poland
Greater Harford Academy of the Arts
Greater Princeton Steinway Society
City University of New York Graduate Center
Cinema Arts Center, (Huntington, LI)
Brazilian-American Cultural Center (Washington, DC)
Buschnell Theater (Hartford, CT)
Atheneum (Providence, RI)
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art (Hartford, CT)
Westminster Choir College (Princeton, NJ)
Nassau Community College (Nassau, LI)
Brooklyn Conservatory
Sesc Avenida Paulista (S�o Paulo, Brazil)
Sala Cecilia Meireles (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Santosha Arts Center (LI)
Brooklyn Library
Jazz clubs and festivals
Oslo Jazz Festival (Oslo, Norway)
Sala Jazz Series (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Chopin and Friends Festival (Consulate of Poland, NYC)
Hartford International Jazz Festival (Hartford, CT)
Rocky Mountain Ragtime Festival (Boulder, CO)
Birdland Jazz Club
Village Gate (as music director and keyboard player for legendary Brazilian singer Elza
Soares)
Mistura Fina Jazz Club (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Main and Hopewell Jazz Club (Glansbury, CT)
Gate�s Pub (Brasilia, Brazil)
Letras e Express�es (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Arts Nights at Europa Club (Brooklyn, NY)
BargeMusic (Brooklyn, NY)
Other venues
Mirage Hotel (Las Vegas)
Harbourplace Renaissance Hotel (Baltimore)
Plaza Athen�e Hotel
Costa Magica Cruise Ship (concert for Holistic Holiday at Sea)
Programa do Jo (the main late night television program in Brazil)
Artists with whom Luiz Simas performed as sideman
Natalie Carter, Elin, Samba Novo, Sue Terry, Sue Maskaleris, Ze luis, Oswaldo
Montenegro,
Sergio Dias,
Marilia Pera and many others ...
Music groups in which Luiz Simas participated as a founding member
Agora-4, Modulo 1000, Vimana, Alu�
Discography
Luiz Simas� CDs released in the US
New Chorinhos From Brazil
Impromptu
Recipe for Rhythm
Luiz Simas Live in New York City
Cafune (also released in Brazil)
Recordings as a sideman (over 300 recordings)
Elin (as music director, arranger, co-producer)
Raul Seixas
Oswaldo Montenegro
Jorge Ben
Marilia Pera
Ze Ramalho and many others ...
Artists and groups which recorded Luiz Simas' original music
M�dulo 1000
Vimana
Ritchie
Lob�o
Ana Caram
Gil (female singer)
Marilynn Mair
Hendrik Meurkens
Group Triangulo and many others ...
Contacts: tel: New York (212) 481-2401 Rio de Janeiro (021) 2259-3005
e-mail: [email protected] website www.luizsimas.com
Reviews
Luiz Simas is not only a wonderful musician, singer and composer, he is an engaging
performer who draws his audience into his witty, joyful, sensuous musical world. �Simas
epitomizes the fantasies we non-Brazilians have about that wonderful country, and with
him, we all get to be Brazilian, at least for the a couple hours! - Judy Carmichael, pianist
(Luiz�s) playing is sassy, clear, vibrant, yet understated� ?�his music ...sounds fresh,
smart,
and witty� � Titus Levis, Keyboard Magazine??�Luiz Simas has done an outstanding job!
His
(New Chorinhos from Brazil CD) ..is by far the very best choro release out of Brazil in
recent years...superbly performed.� � Eg�dio Leit�o, Luna Kafe
�This (Recipe for Rhythm) album is a gem. If you like lush, exotic Brazilian rhythms to
dance to, contemplate to, or just to dream or work to, this is just the thing. A very fine
surprise�� The Critical Review
Cafun� [Luiz Simas� new cd] � I had to look up the word � is a smart, fresh, and
extremely
musical offering from a really talented Brazilian guy ....... �I was delightfully surprised...
Tom Schnabel, KCRW-fm, Santa Monica CA
Simas has a wind-swept, deliriously romantic croon that is best exemplified by Meu
Rio
and A Rede, a Brisa e o Som do Mar.... At times he comes across as a Brazilian Frank
Sinatra, but Ol' Blue Eyes never had backing music as thrillingly exotic as this. There are
some absolutely dreamy moments on this LP.... Simas reaches beyond the Brazilian pop
base and into jazz, world, and Bossa Nova. It's a joy from beginning to end, the perfect
album to caress your head with Adam Harrington, whisperinandhollerin.com
�This is a firecracker of a record, exploding with jubilant Latin rhythms, richly textured
jazz backbeats, and even elegant classical touches... Cafun� already has my vote as
among the year�s finest. Musically,... spectacular .... �Sambinha do Chin�s� injects
Oriental
flavors on�playfully�energetic piano. �Cabelos Brancos� is�a river flow of elevating sax
and
laid-back piano, flute, and cello. �A Chama� combines Brazilian pop with classical
atmospherics while �A Revolta dos Mares� is ice-cool lounge music. Vivian Fields,
midnightjazz.wordpress.com
Contacts: tel: New York (212) 481-2401 Rio de Janeiro (021) 2259-3005
e-mail: [email protected] website www.luizsimas.com