Louis Simão profile picture

Louis Simão

...No rebanho das nuvens claras...

About Me

Based within the cultural diversity of Toronto, Canada, instrumentalist, composer, singer and producer Louis Simão, represents the voice of a new generation within the broad spectrum of lusophone music. His music is a cry and celebration of saudade from a distant and unlikely outpost. ____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________ Intimately linked to Portuguese folkloric music through the accordion and guitar; steeped in Brazilian music and jazz as a bassist, pianist and guitarist, Simão arrives on the scene as both modern and traditional, offering a different perspective; a fusion, an abstraction, or more appropriately, an extension; something that is simultaneously a reflection of the past as well as a vision of the future. Through his original works, the listener experiences sounds reminiscent of Portuguese folk music and fado, MPB and the rhythms of Brazil, along with strains of Angolan music, fused with funk and reggae, and rounded out by an improvisatory approach and jazz sensibility. Subtle and seemingly simple, Simão's music is always executed with finesse, harmonic sophistication, and a hard-hitting, solid groove. Whether inspired by the samba, baião, maculelê or maracatú, semba, viras and muinheiras, his rhythmic conception remains deeply entrenched in these Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Portuguese rhythms. With this firm musical foundation in place, the lyrics and melody shape the song that is born. Drawing influence and inspiration from his surroundings, his songs speak of the rich experiences that life offers. His themes are sometimes spiritual, sometimes of love or celebration; at other times he speaks to the struggles of loneliness, loss and poverty that surround us in today's super-complex and modern world. The result, an extensive musical journey with an artist who blends cultural genres, using the Portuguese language and folkloric material as the common thread. Nascent not of a Portuguese-speaking country, the songs are of an expression and jeito that is truly a product of a first-generation Canadian artist. Simão has one foot in his native country of Canada, and another in his parents’ customs and traditions of Portugal. As a consequence, his music is a celebration of this diversity. It is broad in nature and demonstrative of a voice that is versatile and a conception that challenges all notions of classification._____________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 22/10/2006
Band Website: www.louissimao.com
Band Members: ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________ In Portugal: Lula Moreno, guitar; Paulo Rosa Martins, drums; Daniel Salomé, saxophone. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________ In Toronto: Bill McBirnie, flute; Roger Travassos, percussion; Daniel Stone, cajon; Silas Silva, drums; Maninho, percussion; Rich Brown, bass. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________ On the Recordings: ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________ Saber Cair: Louis Simão, vocals, guitar & percussion. David French, sax, bkp vocals, percussion. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________ Poeira: Louis Simão, vocals, guitar, acoustic bass. David French, sax. Richard Armin, cello. Bryden Baird, flugelhorn. Catarina Cardeal, vocals. Daniel Stone, cajon. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________ Oracão: Louis Simão, vocals, guitar & percussion. David French, sax, bkp vocals. Kirk McFarlane, berimbau. Daniel Stone, cajon. ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________ Pingacho: Pedras da Rua ____________________________________________________________ __________________________________ Fado Torto: Louis Simão, vocals, guitars, acoustic bass. Bill McBirnie, flute.______________________________________________________ ________________________________________
Influences: The most influential people have been my mother & father. After that, all of the great musicians I have worked with. Beyond that, there are too many to mention, but here are a few...... ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________ BASSISTS; Nico Assumpção, Luizão, Jaco Pastorius, Paul Chambers, Charles Mingus, Ray Brown... ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________ GUITARISTS; João Gilberto, Celso Machado, João Bosco, Júlio Pereira, Alfredo Machado, Waldemar Bastos... ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________ PIANISTS; Bill Evans, Hank Jones, Mcoy Tyner, Keith Jarret, Mark Eisenman, Herbie Hancock....... ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________ COMPOSERS/SONGWRITERS; Antonio Carlos Jobim, Zéca Afonso, Duke Ellington, Hermeto Pascoal, Bill Evans, Bonga, Bob Marley, Caetano Veloso, Egberto Gismonti, Dorival Caymmi.... ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________ VOCALISTS; Milton Nascimento, Maria João, Elis Regina, Chico Buarque, Camané..... ____________________________________________________________ _________________________________
Sounds Like: A journey through the Lusophone world...... A fusion of Latin World Music, in Portuguese.....
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Luminatos National Bank Yorkville Festival  Brazilian Guitar Marathon - JUNE 13

Attention lovers of Brazilian guitar!  This day is not to be missed!Saturday, June 13 at Village of Yorkville ParkFREENational Bank Yorkville Festival  Brazilian Guitar MarathonLuminatos National Ba...
Posted by on Sun, 22 Mar 2009 08:28:00 GMT

The Sicilian Jazz Project "All Music Guide" Album Review

Album Review Released: October, 27, 2008Record Label: True North  Considering his roots, the Sicilian Jazz Project is a logical step for Toronto, Ontario, Canada based electric guitarist Michael Occhi...
Posted by on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:09:00 GMT

"BLINDNESS" Part 1

To anyone who might be interested, the following is an excerpt of an article from Danny Glover's ZSpace Page.  It is an interview with Danny Glover and Alice Braga. 'Blindness' Film Interview ...
Posted by on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:57:00 GMT

MARGARET ATWOOD article - Globe & Mail

Hello.  For those of you who did not have a chance to read Margaret Atwood's article in the Globe in Mail last week, I urge you to check it out.Please see below.......MARGARET ATWOOD From the Glo...
Posted by on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:17:00 GMT

Festival Printemps de Azemmour - 10 mil espectadores

O Instituto Camões  Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros Notícias Festival Printemps de Azemmour A 2.ª edição do Festival Printemps de Azemmour realizou-se em Azemmour, no dia 30 de Maio de 2008. O...
Posted by on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:13:00 GMT

2007 USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION - First Prize in World Music

Hello friends! I am pleased to announce that I have been awarded with First Prize in the World Music category of the 2007 USA Songwriting Competition for my composition, Fado Torto. The song fea...
Posted by on Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:21:00 GMT

VIVA MUNDO! @ THE LULA LOUNGE

I would like to say thank you to the Lula Lounge, Jessica Lloyd, Dominic Mancuso and Bruno Capinan for being a part of a special musical evening last Thursday. I would also like to give thanks to the ...
Posted by on Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:19:00 GMT

...Do some more, boys!... (CD review)

...Do some more, boys!...Reviewer: Bill McBirnieThis is a remarkable piece of work performed almost entirely by Louis Simão and David French with only isolated assistance from others. It showcases the...
Posted by on Mon, 25 Jun 2007 09:22:00 GMT

Finalist in the 11th Annual USA Songwriting Competition

I am happy to say that I was recently announced as a finalist in the 11th Annual USA Songwriting Competition for my song, "Saber Cair". This is now the second major recognition for this tune; I was t...
Posted by on Thu, 07 Jun 2007 06:39:00 GMT

Supermarket Dec 20/06

Supermarket  Dec 20/06 & New Year's Wishes Yes!  A big thank you to the Supermarket and John Kong of Do Right! Music for letting us play in such a great sounding room.  Another big...
Posted by on Sun, 31 Dec 2006 10:47:00 GMT