HEITOR G. GARCIA

Drummer and Percussionist

I was Born in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, started my music education as a drummer in 1983 at the Música de Minas (Milton Nascimento’s music school), in 1984 studied at the Music Conservatory of Minas Gerais, also took private lessons with José Vaz. In 1988 went to Rio de Janeiro and took private lessons with Paschoal Meirelles.

Beginning in 1984 I performed on live T.V. shows, Radio programs, and theater; traveled in Brazil throughout Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia working with rock, jazz and Brazilian popular music (MPB) groups. My first recording experience was with Casa dos Sonhos a local rock band from Belo Horizonte this band opened the door for my career as drummer in state of Minas Gerais, in 1988 I participated of the group O Grande Ah! an avant-Garde rock band with them I recorded an album that counted with the participation of Claudio Venturine (Flavio Venturine’s brother) and Paulo Santos from Uakti, and later performing at the “Melhor dos Festivais de Minas ano IV” I had the opportunity of participating on a live recording with Tato Fisher from Secos e Molhados.

I moved to the US in 1991, in Chicago I studied Brazilian and Latin percussions instruments by myself, my brother Paulinho Garcia was a big  influence on the percussion approach which lead me to participate on various Jazz, Latin and Brazilian Jazz groups as a drummer and percussionist; among the groups I was part, the ones with most highlights are Jazzmineiro (Paulinho’s septet), Ensemble Kalinda, Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, Ricardo Lorenz (Macondo Stew), I also performed and recorded with many musicians from the Chicago area, Paulinho Garcia, Grazyna Auguscik, April Aloisio, Marshall Vente, Linda Tate, Francesco Crosara and his mother Lilian Terry, Matthew Skoller, etc.

I also Performed on the openings ceremonies of 1994 world cup, I was part of Immigrants Unsettle Solutions a 2 weeks program created by WTTW Chicago public TV that was showed to the entire USA, Flavio Chamis (Tons of Nature a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim) besides Luciano Antonio, and the inauguration of Chicago’s Millennium Park with the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra. My latest appearance with the Immigrant Orchestra was at the Symphony Center in Chicago.

In 2005 as part of the “Middle Easter Latin Jazz” band Hijazz (Hijaz) I recorded Modern Mijana our first CD, where we incorporated Brazilian and Latin jazz into the Arabic ideas of Omar Al-musfi, in 2006 the group has toured from Chicago to Washington on the A Concert for Peace Tour, building cultural understanding and peace through music. I have been an invited musician of Joe Vasconcellos (one of Chile most well known singer/composer in South America) US/Canada tours.

            The family music connection has been very important  for me, my brother Paulinho Garcia is one of the most respected Brazilian musicians in Chicago (and many other parts of the world) he has help my career to grow, I  have participated on the many appearances  with my brother on Jazz festivals, TV, concerts, and recordings.

            Recently I recorded with Grazyna Auguscik and Paulinho on their new CD Andança, we performed together in Poland and in Chicago, and I am involved also on the new project with Paulinho “Dois no Choro” new CD coming up soon.

For the next year I am reviving on of the most important Brazilian bands in Chicago, the group Som Brasil “New Generation” the group has been one of the most recognized Brazilian Jazz bands in Chicago for the past 3 decades the band has interrupt their work in 1995, the plans are to bring the talents of Breno and Neusa Sauer back in to Chicago’s music scene.

Hope to see you around sometime, don’t forget to leave your contact information, and if you have chance visit my Myspace.

Thanks for the visit.

Heitor G. Garcia