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Ivan Lins

Ivan Lins was born in Rio de Janeiro, on June 16th, 1945. He is a complete musician and great songwriter, known for many Grammy Awards and Latin Grammy Awards he received, by numerous recordings of his work worldwide, differentiated by their harmonies and its arrangement at the same time refined and popular. Not coincidentally, he is the most recorded Brazilian artist living abroad. Autodidact, he began playing piano at eighteen years old and was very influenced by the music he heard in his childhood in the United States, as well as by jazz and bossa nova, this genre that made him abandon the volleyball courts, sport practiced with passion, to devote to music. For this reason, gave up the career of Chemical Industrial, course completed in 1969 with pos graduate in 1970.

At this time, Lins has already showed a differentiated harmonic construction in his songs, unusual in Brazilian music, and one of the characteristics that would make Ivan Lins became so respected among musicians worldwide.

He had many successes as a singer and songwriter as “Madalena” (It was released by the unforgettable Brazilian diva Elis Regina), “Abre Alas”, “Velas”,“Somos Todos Iguais Essa Noite”, “Começar de Novo”, “Dinorah, Dinorah”, “ Desesperar, Jamais”, “Vitoriosa”, “Vieste”, “Lembra de mim” and many others. In the '70s, released four albums that have become iconic in Brazilian Music and complemented each other, Ivan reached worldwide recognition and admiration: “Somos Todos Iguais Esta Noite”, “Nos Dias de Hoje”, “A Noite” e “Novo Tempo”.

Ivan Lins has released numerous recordings with great impact, always on ace contemporary issues of each era. His work has been renewed through the years, always bringing new musical values nd ideals aggregates, without ever losing his trademark, his DNA, his originality. From the second half of the 80s his work had a major international impact, especially in the U.S. where it was recorded by major artists such as Sarah Vaughan, Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, George Benson, Toots Thielemans, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Al Jarreu, Manhattan Transfer, Take 6, New York Voices, Sting, Diana Krall, Barbara Streisand and many others.

In 1991, he founded the record label Velas with his friend and partner Vitor Martins. Being an independent record label, it has marked the history of the national discography by launching artists and albums of our music as newcomers Guinga, Chico Cesar and Lenine and established names like Edu Lobo, Fátima Guedes, Zizi Possi, among many others.

The Velas was the national headquarters of the concept of independent record label subsequently it influenced the emergence of other record companies.

Eclectic in his musical performance, Lins also composed scores for movies, as well as several tracks and themes for television series, which has won several awards in Brazil and abroad. Besides Vitor Martins, his most frequent partner, Ivan composed unforgettable works with Caetano Veloso, Ronaldo Monteiro, Dudu Falcão, Lia Luft, Paulo César Pinheiro, Celso Viáfora, , Abel Silva, Martinho da Vila, Aldir Blanc, Chico Buarque, , Nei Lopes, Chico César, Salgado Maranhão, among others.

In 2001, Lins recorded "Jobiniando", a disc tribute to Tom Jobim, with new harmonies to great themes of the conductor, and new compositions that demonstrate the relationship of the “carioca” singer with the universe of Jobim.

In 2005 he released the CD and DVD “Cantando Histórias”, which rescues big hits of his career with new arrangements and with the participation of several guests, and that earned him a disc and a DVD of gold in Brazil and 2 "Grammys" Latinos”: the best Brazilian record and best album of the year.

It is worth remembering that in 1981, the song "Dinorah, Dinorah" also won a Grammy for best jazz instrumental arrangement with the recording of George Benson, in 1982 the song "Velas" won the same award with the recording of Quincy Jones, and in 2004 Sting won the Grammy for best pop singer with "She Walks This Earth". In 2006 he recorded the CD “Acariocando”. In 2007 it is the turn of the CD and DVD “Saudades de Casa” recorded with an open rehearsal at Estúdio Mega in Rio de Janeiro. In this project the composer count with the participation of several guests who are part of his life, like Chico Buarque, Leila, his son Claudio Lins, and his godchildren Daniel Gonzaga, Luiz Ribeiro and Pedro Alterio.

In 2009 won a Latin Grammy with his album "Ivan Lins & The Metropole Orchestra". It was recorded with this great Dutch orchestra and arrangements and baton of conductor Vince Mendoza, great name in world music, with guest the uruguayan guitarist Leonardo Amuedo, the singer Trijintje Oosterhuis, the saxophonist Stefano Di Batista and the portuguese singer Paulo de Carvalho. This project is an addition to a long history of presentations made by Ivan Lins and symphony orchestras, cameras, jazz and Big Bands.

In 2010 released Íntimo (Intimate), produced by Ruud Jacobs and Rob Van Weelde, recorded in the Netherlands with international participation as Take 6, Jorge Drexler, Till Bronner, Alejandro Sanz, Jane Monheit and others.

In November of 2011, in Netherlands, he received The Edison Award, the Dutch music prize, in recognition of his contribution to the music world.

Only in 2012, had 4 CDs released simultaneously worldwide with guest Alejandro Sanz, Jorge Drexler, La Mari, Peter War, and the Cuban Carlos Varela. A CD in Italy in partnership with the band InventaRIO; a CD in Germany in partnership with the SWR Big Band; a CD released in Japan, plus a CD of new material in Brazil, called "Amorágio".

In 2013, in recognition of services rendered to the brazilian and global culture thought his great music, Ivan received from the Brazilian Government the Medal of Cultural Merit.

In 2014 he released a CD called “America, Brasil” only with songs with his most important partner, Vitor Martins who, as Ivan says, “has been putting this beautiful words on my mouth from the last 40 years”. He won one more grammy for this piece, “Best Brazilian Music Album”.

Even with so much time devoted to compose compulsively and the trips around Brazil and the world, Ivan is an active part of the GAP, a group pro-music which operates with intensity in the struggle for improving the system of collection and distribution of copyright, by improving the conditions for the exercise of the profession of musician and other issues relating to culture and music education in Brazil, using the stage to perform not only their musicianship, but also their citizenship.

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Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin: Brasil

by Edward Blanco
August 18, 2024

Friends and musical partners since the '70s, guitarist Lee Ritenour and pianist Dave Grusin continue their collaboration on Brasil, thanks to Ritenour's Brazilian wife Carmen, who was influential in recommending the project, and to the many outstanding Brazilian players who grace the album. Though the repertoire contains two Ritenour originals and one from Grusin, the producers draw on such Brazilian composers as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Milton Nascimento, Celso Fonseca and Ivan Lins for the majority of the songs, which were ...

Album Review

Ivan Lins: My Heart Speaks

Read "My Heart Speaks" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
November 12, 2023

Brazilian singer and composer Ivan Lins has recorded about fifty albums since 1970 but has not recorded one in over ten years. Now, this multiple Latin Grammy-Award winner remerges with the superb and inviting My Heart Speaks, perhaps the most impressive and lush recording of his long, distinguished career. An important feature here is the extraordinary collaboration with the 91-piece Tblisi Symphony Orchestra, the most popular orchestra from the Republic of Georgia in Eastern Europe, under the direction of Maestro ...

Album Review

Ivan Lins: My Heart Speaks

Read "My Heart Speaks" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
October 4, 2023

Ivan Lins is a Brazilian music legend and multiple Latin Grammy Award winner who has consistently delivered a unique blend of bossa nova, jazz and pop throughout his career. In this first release in over ten years, entitled My Heart Speaks, Lins performs rare gems from his catalogue backed by the Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra along with guest appearances from vocalists Dianne Reeves, Jane Monheit and newcomer Tawanda, as well as trumpeter Randy Brecker. The eleven songs ...

Album Review

Ivan Lins: My Heart Speaks

Read "My Heart Speaks" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
September 14, 2023

My Heart Speaks opens with “Renata Maria," the song of a ravishing woman who emerges from the sea then disappears, leaving her would-be lover to yearn eternally. Ivan Lins composed the piece in 2004 with Chico Buarque in mind (punningly calling it a “Buarquiana brasileira"). Buarque invented the narrative later, presenting his lyric to Lins as a gift, upon the birth of his first grandchild. Kuno Schmid's score sets the scene. Warm orchestral waves wash over Lins' impassioned ...

In Pictures

Ivan Lins & Friends At Cremona Jazz Festival 2022

by Danilo Codazzi
May 25, 2022

A collection of photos from the Ivan Lins concert at Cremona Jazz Festival 2022 in Cremona, Italy, on 22 April, 2022, featuring Ivan Lins, André Sarbib, Nema Antunes, Claudio César Ribeiro and Chriss Wells ...

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Live Review

Ivan Lins at Jazz Alley

by Jason West
June 10, 2005

Those with high expectations of Ivan Lins were likely disappointed with his opening night performance at Jazz Alley on Friday, May 6. A bad cold severely hampered Lins' singing voice, confining it to rare moments of musical brilliance; and while his illness was unfortunate, his lack of professionalism onstage was much harder to forgive.At age 60, dressed extra-casual in a sweat suit and sneakers, the popular Brazilian singer/composer/pianist was making his first Jazz Alley appearance in seven years--an event ...

237

Live Review

Ivan Lins, Cubanismo at The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival

by Bob Jacobson
March 12, 2004

First, some words about the festival itself. This five day program would be impressive in any location but in a city of under 80,000 makes it even moreso. This is a totally free program sponsored by the City of Wilmington (Delaware)with support from eighteen businesses. This year's program included Lou Donaldson, Jazz Messengers alumni, Nnenna Freelon, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Alex Bugnon, Najee, Earl Klugh, Patti Austin and David Sanborn. After Saturday night's concert the festival promotes a “Jazz Loop," offering free ...

Recording

Ryan Keberle & Collectiv Do Brasil Pay Tribute To Ivan Lins On 'Choro Das Aguas,' To Be Released July 18 By Alternate Side Records

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
May 23, 2025

Trombonist Ryan Keberle and Collectiv do Brasil explore the music of one of the world’s greatest living musical masters with Choro das Águas, set for a July 18 release on Alternate Side Records. The album—Keberle’s third with the São Paulo pianist/arranger Felipe Silveira, bassist Felipe Brisola, and drummer Paulinho Vicente features compositions by Brazilian jazz and popular music tunesmith Ivan Lins, marking the composer’s 80th-birthday year, along with two of Keberle’s unique original compositions. (Lins and Keberle share a June ...
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Recording

Resonance Records New Release Featuring Brazilian Legend Ivan Lins With A Symphony Orchestra Out September 15

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications
September 14, 2023

Ivan Lins is one of the most treasured and recorded Brazilian composers in the world and a melodist with few equals. The winner of four Latin Grammy Awards, Lins has recorded nearly fifty albums since 1970; they contain countless songs, notably “Madalena” and “Começar de Novo” (To Begin Again), that have become standards in his country. “Love Dance,” cowritten with his longtime arranger, Gilson Peranzzetta, and lyricist Paul Williams, is Lins’s English-language classic. Its performers include Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, ...
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Recording

Resonance Records Is Proud To Present Brazilian Legend Ivan Lins With A Symphony Orchestra In The Most Sumptuous Album Of His Career

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications
June 21, 2023

Recording

Brazilian Vocalist Carol Saboya To Make U.S. Solo Debut With "Belezas: The Music Of Ivan Lins & Milton Nascimento"

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
June 12, 2012

Already established as a premier recording artist in her native Brazil and in Japan, with eight albums to her credit, vocalist Carol Saboya is poised to make her U.S. solo debut with the July 10 release of Belezas: The Music of Ivan Lins and Milton Nascimento. The CD, on the AAM Music label, features guest appearances by saxophonist Dave Liebman and harmonica master Hendrik Meurkens, and was produced and arranged by renowned pianist (and Saboya’s father) Antonio Adolfo. Having previously ...
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Event

Ivan Lins & Rosa Passos - Jazz at Lincoln Center

Source: All About Jazz
April 23, 2008

WHAT: Brazilian Festival:

WHO: Ivan Lins & Trio da Paz with New York Voices

WHEN: May 23-24 - 8pm

WHERE: Rose Theater Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center Broadway at 60th St., New York City

TICKETS: Tickets are $30, $50, $75, $95, $120 and available at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office on Broadway at 60th St., ...
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Recording

Pianist Mike Catalano gets Will Lee, Bob James, Chuck Loeb, Ivan Lins and more on his debut CD, "A Manhattan Affair"

Source: Michael Ricci
June 26, 2007

Pianist Mike Catalano teams up friends and favorite talents to make this dream come true. Beginning with his co-producer Will Lee, veteran bassist, vocalist, producer (Oh, The Fab Faux, Late show with David Letterman,), and arranger Rob Mounsey (Dave Koz At the Movies, Aaron Neville, Natalie Cole, Ivan Lins, Michael Franks, Steely Dan, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Flying Monkey) and rounded up a virtual who's who of the contemporary jazz and jazz industry as guests and musicians Ivan Lins, Bob ...
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