Laurindo Almeida

About

Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist and arrangerLaurindo Almeida was primarily self-taught and gained his experience through performances and collaborations. Almeida synthesized his Afro-Brazilian musical heritage with classical music and jazz. An extraordinarily prolific composer, he wrote over one thousand works for solo guitar, guitar and orchestra, chamber ensemble, voice, bands, and instruments. Almeida received several awards and honors such as Grammy Awards, the Latin American & Caribbean Cultural Society Award, and the Comendador da Ordem do Rio Branco by the Brazilian Government. Almeida also operated his own publishing company Brazilliance, which was influential in the dissemination of Latin American music.