I am originally from Brazil, and now living in Houston, TX but I also have a setup in Los Angeles, CA
When I was about 11 years old, I realized that music and specially rhythm was my passion. From those days of School Marching Bands, I never stopped pursuing my excellence in it. Born in Southern Brazil, I moved to Rio de Janeiro to study at Villa Lobos School of Music. Learned a lot going to neighborhood Samba Schools, and I also took private lessons in Rio and Bahia.
In the early 90’s moved to Los Angeles, CA, where I had the opportunity to perform and record with musicians from all over the world. An amazing learning experience! For family reasons went back to Brazil in 2005 and opened a recording studio and production company. Spent a few years back and forth between L.A., Rio and Natal (in Northeastern Brazil).
In 2013, I moved to Houston -TX, for a new and exciting chapter of musical adventures. New musical projects are being born out of my recording studio. Performances as World Music DJ, and educational projects for adults and kids are also happening.
Visit my contact page or Facebook for more info.
SOME PERFORMANCE CREDITS
DJAVAN- Brazilian singer/songwriter, World Tour 1988-91
DORI CAYMMI- Singer/songwriter; Qwest artist, 1992, 2001
GAL COSTA – Brazilian superstar, international tour 2001/2002
OSCAR CASTRO-NEVES – Composer/producer; JVC artist
BALLET FOLKLORICO DO BRASIL – Music/Dance troupe which performs Brazilian cultural shows for schools, colleges and festivals in the US.
CHAKA KHAN – Greek Theater , Los Angeles, 2002
ANGELIQUE KIDJO- Singer, songwriter from West Africa, acoustic tour West Coast, Aug. 1996
DARIUSH -Iranian singer 2001/02/03
GOOGOOSH – Female Singer, Star from Iran, World Tour 2000/01/02/03
KEVYN LETTAU – Singer, songwriter, JVC artist, 1995, 1999
IVAN LINS – Brazilian singer, songwriter, Southern California shows 1992-93
LEILA FAROUHAR – Iranian singer, Kodak Theater, Los Angeles 2002
TANIA MARIA – Brazilian jazz fusion piano player, singer/composer , 1992 tour
SERGIO MENDES – Brazilian keyboard player and producer – Grammy winner.,1997
NAHUALLI ENSEMBLE- Pre-Hispanic Flutes and World Percussion . Original compositions (w.Brad Dutz & Martin Espino).
RAY OBIEDO – Guitar player , composer- 1998
BRENDA RUSSELL – Singer/songwriter, EMI artist, Southern California Tour, 1993, 1999, 2000
STRUNZ & FARAH – Acoustic/Flamenco/Latin guitar duo, 1994/95/96/97/98/99/00/01/03/04
JOAN SEBASTIAN – Mexican singer/songwriter 2002
TOOTS THIELEMANS – Harmonica player releasing “The Brasil Project” (1992) and “The Brazil Project II” (1993); at the “The Hollywood Bowl”, CA
SOME HIGHLIGHTS of RECORDING CREDITS:
For an almost complete recording credit list , please visit Allmusic.com
“AN INTRODUCTION TO BRAZILIAN PERCUSSION” – Instructional DVD, produced by LP Music, Dist. by Alfred Music
BRAZILIANDO – “Tempo de Brasil” with Kleber Jorge and Robert Kyle (mixed and co-produced)
JOãO BOSCO – CBS “Bosco”, Brazil
GILBERTO GIL – Som Livre “O Salvador da Pátria”, Brazil
TOOTS THIELEMANS – Private Music “The Brasil Project”, and “The Brasil
Project II”, – produced by Oscar Castro Neves and Miles Goodman
LEE RITENOUR – GRP Records “Wes Bound”
Rabbit Ears Productions/Rhino Records, “The Monkey People”
“Earth Voice” w. Phil Perry and others, video/CD released in Japan,
LEE RITENOUR & LARRY CARLTON – “Larry & Lee” GRP Records,
LUBA MASON – “Krazy Love””
BRENDA RUSSEL – EMI Records “Soul Talking”, Live DVD for The Jazz Channel,
STRUNZ & FARAH – Selva “The Heat of the Sun” released November
“Joseph and His Brothers”, Rabbit Ears Prod./ Rhino Records
“Live” album released February
“Wild Muse” , released Selva Records
“String Weave”, released on Selva Records
SANDRO ALBERT : “Soulful People”, “The Colour of Things”…
REBBESOUL & COMMON TONGUE – Pop with a Middle Eastern touch. Original Compositions.
PRINCE EYANGO – “Another Part of Me”, Preya Music International, (West African artist)
“Si Tu Me Mens”
“A TWIST OF JOBIM” – Various artists (Al Jarreau, Oleta Adams and others) in a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim (produced by Lee Ritenour for i.e.Music /Polygram Int.) released in March /97.
“A TWIST OF MARLEY”- Various artists in a atribute to Bob Marley, produced by Lee Ritenour, relased by GRP
ERIC MARIENTHAL – “Easy Street” (i.e. Music/Polygram Int.)
BADI ASSAD – “Chamelleon” released (i.e. Music/Polygram Int.)
DUMAZZ – “Mother Rhythm” Narada Records
PAUL WINTER & OSCAR CASTRO-NEVES “Brazilian Days” Living Music
PAULWINTER – Greatest Hits – Living Music
LISA ONO- “Dream” – Toshiba EMI Japan
MELISSA MANCHESTER- “When I look down the road”, 2004 (Koch records)
KLEBER JORGE- “Voltar pro Rio” -Sonic Images,
YUKO MARUYAMA – “In Tone Nation”, 2002
“BRAZILIAN and AFRO-CUBAN COORDINATION FOR DRUM SET” –Instructional videos feat. Maria Martinez, (Hal Leonard)
CELSO FONSECA – “No Meu Filme“
ALINE CALIXTO – “Flor Morena”
AMIN SAFARI – Album “La Rumba” (percussion, mixing and mastering)
SOUNDTRACK for MOTION PICTURES or TV CREDITS
NARCOS – 3 seasons on Netflix – original score by Pedro Bromfman
“Elite Squad and Elite Squad-The Enemy Within” – music by Pedro Bromfman
“Dark Blue” – music by Terence Blanchard
“Only the Strong” – music by Harvey Mason
“Six Days-Seven Nights” – music by Randy Edelman, Hollywood Records
“ED TV” – music by Randy Edelman
“Doña Barbara” – (Argentinian-Spanish prod.) music by Bingen Mendizabal, Dir. Betty Kaplan
“The Lost World” Sci-fi Channel , music by Peter Erskine
“Dead in the Water” – Music by Heitor Pereira
“War Stories” – Music by Jay Gruska, NBC
“Woman on Top” – Aditional percussion on different tracks from Brazilian Artists
“Survivor” – Brazilian segment on CBS , music by David Vanacore
“The Young Black Stalion”, Disney, 2003 on the IMAX, music by William Ross
“The Run Down”, music by Harry Gregson-Williams
COMMERCIAL JINGLES (RADIO and TV SPOTS)
Honda
Satturn
Jeep Eagle
Continental Airlines, etc.
As Educator, have worked teaching Brazilian Percussion at:
SANGEET School of World Music in Highland Park.
LAMA – Los Angeles Music Academy in Pasadena, CA
UCLA (Univ. of CA, Los Angeles – Dept. of Ethnomusicology) and facilitated workshops for kids through the Cultural Affairs Dept. and the Music Center of Los Angeles.
Brazilian Percusion Clinics around the USA sponsored by LP Music (Latin Percussion)