Geovane Santos, an Afro-Brazilian guitarist, vocalist, composer, and educator from Belo Horizonte, brings his rich cultural heritage to New Orleans' vibrant music scene. Recognized as the city's "best Brazilian jazz guitarist" by OffBeat Magazine, he is the founder of New Orleans Brasil Day and a dedicated scholar exploring race, transculturation, and cultural appropriation in music.
His talent and innovation earned him the 2017 Louis Armstrong Foundation Jazz Composer Award from ASCAP. Holding a Master of Arts in Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans, he is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Latin American Studies at Tulane University, supported by Mellon Foundation and New Orleans Center for the Gulf South fellowships.
Santos is also an adjunct professor of classical guitar and Brazilian jazz ensemble at Tulane, where he bridges performance and academia. Currently, he is developing a multimedia project exploring memory, heritage, and equity, continuing to shape the cultural landscape of New Orleans through both his scholarship and music.
For Music At Midday Spring 2025, Santos brings in his septet, Orkestra Maria Fumaça, to present music written for ballet "Agua Mole Pedra Dura" 2023-24. Orkestra Maria Fumaça is a vibrant and dynamic twist to Geovane Santos' Brazilian Jazz Trio. With the addition of a fiery horn section and a percussionist, the ensemble adds rich layers and a powerful energy to Santos' original compositions. The solid rhythm section provides a strong foundation, enhancing the intricate rhythms and melodies of Santos' new brand of Brazilian jazz.
