Born: July 30, 1976 Primary Instrument: Piano
Born in July 30, 1976 in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, Cassio Vianna began studying piano at age nine and composing at age twelve. Starting as a classical pianist, Cassio moved to pop music at age thirteen, as he joined a Christian band in his hometown, São Gonçalo. Around that same time, his interest in jazz and Brazilian jazz started to grow as he discovered the music of Milton Nascimento, Francis Hime, Elis Regina, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Ivan Lins, Tom Jobim, Chico Buarque, Chick Corea and Pat Metheny. He studied jazz piano with Maria Lidia Fernandes and Delia Fischer, and harmony with the Hungarian teacher Ian Guest. In 2003, Cassio received his Bachelor's Degree in Music at Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Uni-Rio). In 2009, he moved to the USA, and received his Master's Degree in Contemporary Music at Western Oregon University in 2011.
Cassio has performed and/or recorded with several Brazilian musicians and composers, such as Fatima Regina, Roberto Menescal, Claudio Nucci, Armando Marçal, Piry Reis, and José Neto, among others. In the US, Cassio had the opportunity to perform with guest artists such as Lizz Wright, Allen Toussaint, Sonny Turner, Nancy King, Martha Reeves, Lynn Anderson, Sherry Alves, American Metropole Orchestra and the group Whirled News.
As a composer, Cassio has written for several ensembles exploring diverse music styles. Big band arrangements, solo and duet piano pieces, instrumental jazz music, saxophone ensemble pieces, and pop songs are all part of his recent work. Cassio produced several albums since 1996, ranging from pop to Brazilian jazz music. His recent productions include Dialeto Brasileiro`s instrumental album “No Caminho”, co-produced with Wagner Trindade, in 2008; and the album “Letters to Grace: A Song Cycle”, released on Teal Creek Music label in 2011.
Cassio Vianna is also an active educator. He has been teaching harmony, piano and music theory since 1995, and has worked at several private and public music schools in Rio de Janeiro. Over the years, Cassio specialized in Brazilian Popular Music, and recently taught Brazilian Music History at Western Oregon University as a teaching assistant. He works at Western Oregon University as a staff pianist.
Letters to Grace: A Song Cycle (Teal Creek Music, 2011)
Tracks: I Smile; Rain Samba; So Far Away; Like The First Time; On Time; Letter To Saudade; Your Eyes; River Waltz; Letter to Grace.
Produced by: Cassio Vianna and Keller Coker
Personnel: Cassio Vianna: Composer/arranger, Piano, keyboards and melodica; Sherry Alves: vocals; Keller Coker (trombone); Tom Bergeron (Saxophone & Flute); Wagner Trindade (Bass); Jose Neto & Christopher Woitach (Guitars), Adam Bates (vibraphone); Flavio Santos (Drums & Percussion).
No Caminho (Teal Creek Music, 2009)
Tracks: Voce e Eu; Baia Grande; Tocando a Vida; Sem Voce; No Caminho; Notas da Graca; A Felicidade; Trem das Cinco; Segunda-Feira; Doce Dom.
Produced by: Cassio Vianna and Wagner Trindade
Personnel: Cassio Vianna (Composer, Piano, keyboards and melodica); Wagner Trindade (Composer, Bass); Claudio Felix (Drums); Special Guests: Armando Marcal (Percussion); Claudio Nucci (Vocals); Fatima Regina (Vocals); Robson Verissimo (Acoustic Guitar); Liandro Goes (Soprano Saxophone.
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