Bio

The vibrant and joyful music of Luiz Santos, a worldwide artist from New York City USA, will make you feel alive. His brilliant mix of Brazilian percussion, Caribbean, Chamber Music and Jazz as he plays the drums and the piano will fill your heart with hope. Simply put on one of his albums and you'll be sure to feel uplifted and encouraged. What makes the music of this world-class Brazilian drummer, percussionist, pianist and composer so unique and incredibly special? His unparalleled creativity in making music and has been doing so since his childhood. 

His love of music stems from the passion for music his Brazilian parents had while growing up. They knew that as a young child of nine years old when they first heard Luiz play the drums, he had talent beyond his years. The more he played, the more he aspired to play many different rhythms. 

The self-taught instrumentalist played his first professional gig at the age of 13 while living in Rio de Janeiro. Opportunities arose to play with older musicians which helped him to explore many different styles of music. 

He started touring Europe at age 17. He toured extensively in Europe with jazz guitarist Bireli Lagrene, Pianist Kuno Schmidt. Following tours with his own band called "Brazil Fusion". His music became in high demand, enabling him to play for bands and work on music projects in several countries including Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Greece, Luxemburg and Italy. 

Eventually he began performing all over Brazil with well-known recording musicians such as bassist Arthur Maia, Jovino Santos, Hermeto Pascoal and many others. The passion Luiz had for music fueled him to begin composing and arranging full orchestral pieces. 

Influenced by the music of Chick Corea, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Strawinsky, Debussy, Bartok, Hermeto Pascoal, Egberto Gismonti, Keith Jarrett, Weather Report, Pat Metheny, Elvin Jones, Peter Erskine, Billy Cobham, Tony Williams, Dave Weckl and Steve Gadd, he creates unique flavors of music by combining typical jazz sounds with classical and Brazilian percussion. He has also written compositions for everything from jazz to contemporary classical, modern music to string quartets. 

He has also been on demand in New York City playing with musicians like Richie Goods, Lonnie Plaxico, Benito Gonzalez, Vic Juris, Tim Armacost, Peter Brendler, Russ Nolan, Sean Nowell, Helio Alves, Paul Meyers, Edward Perez, John Benitez, Hector Martignon, Mark Weinstein, Nilson Matta,  just to name a few. 

Luiz has recorded several CD Projects in Rio De Janeiro, all which feature his own compositions. Other musicians on his CD projects include: Humberto Mirabelli (Guitar), Fernando Roza (Bass), Fernando Trocado (Tenor Sax and Flute), Marcelo Martins (Alto/Soprano Sax and Flute). 

Life is filled with many sounds and as an accomplished and talented musician, Luiz Santos captures the sounds of life like no other. If you desire to hear music in a whole new way that brings refreshing to your soul and excitement to your everyday life, you will want to have the albums of Luiz Santos. 

It bugs me when people try to analyze Jazz as an intellectual theorem. It's not, it's feeling.”

— Bill Evans