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 (São 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) Vinnitsa International Days of Jazz Music (Vinnitsa, Ukraine) Odessa Jazz Carnival (Odessa, Ukraine) 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 Expressões (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 Athenée 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, Aluá
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 Módulo 1000 Vimana Ritchie Lobão 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: music@luizsimas.com website www.luizsimas.com
