Home » Jazz Musicians » Ed Motta

Ed Motta

Born on August 17th, 1971, in Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Motta had an early inclination for music.  During his adolescent years, deep in rock and blues, Ed was recruited as the vocalist for the hard rock band, Kabbalah.  Since then, his musical passions and references have expanded to soul, funk, jazz, classic-rock, classical music, blues and Broadway.

The results of this musical melting pot is pure Ed Motta, lauded and respected by his dedicated fan base in Europe, Japan, The United States and throughout Latin America.  On stage and in the studio, Ed has engaged in musical exchanges with musicians such as Roy Ayers, Chucho Valdés, Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick (Incognito), Ryuichi Sakamoto, Patrice Rushen, Hubert Laws, Bernard Purdie, João Donato, Dom Salvador and Greg Phillinganes.  

At the age of 15, Ed Motta recorded his debut album “Ed Motta & Conexão Japeri” (Warner Music, 1988) which became an instant boogie-funk classic.  Three decades later, eleven albums deep, seven soundtracks for film and a score for musical theatre, Ed Motta will now release his latest work “Criterion of the Senses” on September 2018 in Europe (Membrane) and Japan. The new full length album reveals a new chapter of the acclaimed singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. Since his first LP, Ed was always the de facto producer of his discography, arriving at the studio with a concept in his head and working meticulously towards perfected instrumentation.

Ed’s second album “Um Contrato com Deus” (Warner, 1990), showcased Ed’s growing maturity through experimentation and musical diversification. The album was entirely composed, produced and recorded by Ed and Bombom (bassist and guitarist who also participated in the group Conexão Japeri). During this time period, Ed Motta wrote and recorded his first musical soundtrack for the short film “Leonora Down” from filmmaker Flávia Alfinito.

Released in 1992, Ed’s album “Entre e Ouça” paid homage to the pop-jazz sensibilities of Steely Dan, an obsession of Ed’s which maintains prevalent till today.  The album artwork was created by artist Edna Lopes, who also pays homage to the Franco-Belgian comic strip drawing technic, “ligne claire.”

Released at the end of 1993, Ed finished his contract term with Warner for his record “Ao Vivo.” He then traveled to New York for one year and during his stay, recorded for an unfinished Donald Fagen project at River Sound Studio, alongside Eddie Gomez, Chuck Rainey, Bernard Purdie, Lenny White, Paul Griffin, David Spinoza and others.  During this time period, Ed continued to expand his musical and cultural vocabulary, including music from his homeland of Brazil.

Read more

Tags

1
Play This!

Ed Motta: Minha Vida Toda Com Você

Read "Ed Motta: Minha Vida Toda Com Você" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


If you thought bossa nova and samba was all there is to know about Brazilian music, let me introduce you to Ed Motta. A true renaissance man, Motta has big ears and melds into his own unique style everything from spiritual jazz to Steely Dan. He also is a master of many instruments, as you can hear on one of his best offerings as a leader, the 2009 Trama label release, Piquenique. ...

Read more articles
3

Event

Ed Motta 2014 US Tour! Plus Katia Moraes, Daniel Carneiro & DJ Potira

Ed Motta 2014 US Tour! Plus Katia Moraes, Daniel Carneiro & DJ Potira

Source: Patricia Leao

At The King King in Hollywood on August 3, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. “Ed Motta pushes all the right retro buttons. There are blasts of soul-jazz and blues-rock and a library of funky dance grooves, replayed in the spirit of the originals.” John L. Watters, The Guardian Los Angeles – Brazilian Nites Productions, presenters of the top Brazilian musical talent since 1989, is proud to present the multifaceted singer, musician and composer Ed Motta on his 2014 US Tour at ...

Photos

Music

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.