Thiago Alves

JazzB - Sao Paulo

6 Sept

Written By Oh! Jazz

Thiago Alves, bass player, composer and arranger from São Paulo, Brazil, began his musical studies at the former Universidade Livre de Música (ULM), now EMESP, at the age of 11, under the guidance of teachers, Itamar Collaço, Marinho Andreotti and Gabriel Bahlis.  He was also part of the the groups: Orquestra Jovem Tom Jobim, Soundscape Big Band and Banda Mantiqueira.
He accompanied great names in the Brazilian Popular Music, such as: Elza Soares, Dominguinhos, Zé Luiz Mazziotti, Claudette Soares, Alaíde Costa, Jane Duboc, Wanderléa, Fátima Guedes, Wilson das Neves, Toninho Horta, Ellen Oléria, Leny Andrade, and more.
He is always present in several instrumental formations playing alongside great Brazilian musicians, such as: Nailor Proveta, Hector Costita, Daniel D’Alcantara, Alexandre Mihanovich, Luiz Mello, Wilson Teixeira, Cuca Teixeira, Felipe Silveira, Paulinho Vicente, Salomão Soares, Toninho Ferragutti; as well as other international guests: Edsel Gomez, Oscar Giunta, Alison Crocket, Davy Mooney, Ed Neumaister, Bobby Shew, Ohad Talmor, Ryan Keberle, Woody Witt, Ted Nash, Marcus Printup, Baptiste Herbin, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, John Ellis, Will Vinson and Alex Sipiagin.
He is the founder and band leader of Reteté Big Band, created in 2006, with two albums released, “Chama Viva” and “Modal Winds”, where he also acts as an arranger and producer.
From September 2021 to August 2022, he was part of Focusyear Band 22, a jazz program led by Wolfgang Muthspiel, that happens in Basel, Switzerland.
In this program he played with alongside renowned musicians, such as: Guillermo Klein, Tineke Postma, Sullivan Fortner, Aaron Parks, Jorge Rossy, Lionel Loueke, Chris Cheek, Linda May Oh, Miguel Zenon and many others.
Currently Thiago is living in Lisbon, Portugal, acting in the local jazz scene with great musicians, such as: Afonso Pais, Bruno Santos, Nuno Ferreira, João Pedro Coelho, Ricardo Toscano, André Sousa Machado and others.