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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