THE SINGER
Press kit download (Info + photos)
Ivan Santos is an outstanding singer-songwriter and lyricist from Paraiba, the tropical northeast of Brazil, who plays a very unique interpretation of Brazilian music.
Ivan's Latin American roots are harmoniously mixed with influences from various musical cultures and merge into his very special sound, 'Brazilian World Pop'.
In his compositions Ivan Santos is keen to experiment, so samba meets blues, funk meets baião, Indian sitar sounds meet Brazilian ballads and other adventurous encounters that make up his unique and recognisable style. Always groovy and a lot of South American fire, sometimes 'soft', then again 'hot', Ivan's way of expressing his feelings musically is authentic. Between humour and seriousness, his warmly timbred voice sings about life, love and the longings of a well-travelled musical storyteller.
THE GRAMMYS
For his musical collaboration with his friend, the Brazilian pop star Lenine, Ivan Santos was awarded a Grammy Award in the category "Best Portuguese Language Song" in 2005 for the lyrics of the hit "Ninguém Faz Idéia".
No wonder, since Ivan's lyrical texts are not unknown in Brazil; as a transatlantic master of pictorial, sometimes political poetry, they even earned him two entries in Brazilian Portuguese schoolbooks.
The fruitful collaboration brought one more nomination for the much-coveted music prize in the following years.
From the very first note, the listener gets a good portion of the Latin American way of life, intoxicating, contagious and authentic. A musical mixture that inspires across generations and cultures.
Ivan's fellow musicians share his enthusiasm for the music of Brazil's northeast, the Baião and Ciranda, for Afro-Brazilian grooves, Samba-Reggae and Funk, all styles of music full of pulsating energy and rhythm.
The perfectly coordinated band delivers a groovy concert experience with great enthusiasm and wit, there is no fear of contact, typically Brazilian!
Ivan Santos plays his own compositions or songs created in collaboration with songwriter colleagues. Songs with bouncy lightness and subtle complexity, but never as an end in themselves, the focus is always on the transport of real emotions.
On appropriate occasions, the trio gets musical reinforcement from the wonderful jazz saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Márcio Tubino from Porto Alegre Brazil), another long-time friend and companion of Ivan.
Ivan Santos: Guitar, vocals, harmonica and composition
Angela Frontera: drums / percussion and background vocals
From the clubs of São Paulo straight to gigs with Grace Jones, Airto Moreira, Hector Costita and Nina Hagen. Angela's authenticity and knowledge of Brazilian musical styles makes her one of the most sought-after percussionists on the scene. With her charisma and inexhaustible energy, she is an important musical pillar of the band.
Marc-Inti Männel Saavedra: Bass
Marc-Inti is one of the most versatile bass players not only in the Frankfurt music scene. Collaborations with Fleetwood Mac guitarist Rick Vito, Indian slide guitarist Dr. Prakash Sontakke, or English soul singer Tarq Bowen speak for themselves.
