Luciana Souza

As a CAST 2020-21 Virtual Visiting Artist, Brazilian-born Luciana Souza returns to MIT to lead a year-long exploration of the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim, and delve into the rich history of cross-cultural exchange that has fueled Brazilian music across genres for generations. Souza will also lead class lectures, masterclasses, small group sessions, and individual lessons to enliven and enrich both the online learning and cultural lives of MIT students during this challenging time of COVID-19.

Previously, Souza and another of South America’s greatest jazz artists, Guillermo Klein, joined the MIT Wind Ensemble, MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble, and MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble to create innovative new compositions and arrangements. The April 28, 2017 performance represents the culmination of a semester-long collaboration between Souza, Klein, and three MIT student ensembles. The evening’s highlight was the world premiere of Works on Hope, a newly commissioned work by Klein for Souza and the MIT Wind Ensemble under the direction of Fred Harris. Also performing with Souza and Klein was the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble and the MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble, which focused their entire spring semester repertoire on music composed or performed by Souza.

Upcoming Events

Performance: Hearing Amazônia–The Responsibility of Existence
Saturday, November 6, 2021 / 8pm
Kresge Auditorium, MIT Building W16
48 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA

Reserve a ticket | MIT COVID Pass or Tim Tickets required to attend

Portugal-born vocalist-composer Sara Serpa and MIT Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Music Evan Ziporyn join an array of MIT musicians (MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble, MIT Wind Ensemble, and MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble) to present a unique program of Brazilian music.

Music from Amazônia and works by Antônio Carlos Jobim, Hermeto Pascoal, Egberto Gismonti, and Chiquinha Gonzaga, arranged by Guillermo Klein and Evan Ziporyn, will be featured.

The concert will include talks by Talia Khan, MIT SB ’20 and future MS/PhD Candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, on her research in Brazil, and Maritta R. von Bieberstein Koch-Weser, who leads the “Amazonia em Transformação: História e Perspectivas” program at the Institute of Advanced Studies of the University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Past Events

The Musical Worlds of Antônio Carlos Jobim

Luciana Souza leads a six-part seminar exploring the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim, delving into the rich history of cross-cultural exchange that has fueled Brazilian music across genres for generations.

Session 1: Brazil and the making of Antonio Carlos Jobim
Friday, September 25, 2020 / 1-2pm

Session 2: Early influences and early work
Friday, October 16, 2020 / 1-2pm

Session 3: The birth of Bossa Nova
Friday, November 6, 2020 / 1-2pm

Session 4: North America
Friday, February 26, 2021 / 1-2pm

Session 5: The 70s and 80s
Friday, March 19, 2021 / 1-2pm

Session 6: Jobim’s Legacy
Friday, April 23, 2021 / 1-2pm

Sign up here to receive notice of any changes or additional materials. All of the sessions do build on each other, so attending all six is recommended, but drop-ins are also welcome.

Jazz and Gender:  Moving Toward an Equitable Future    

March 4, 2021 / 5:00-6:30pm

A conversation with Terri Lyne Carrington, Anat Cohen, Sean Jones, and Luciana Souza
Moderated by Sarah Elizabeth Charles

How do biases in jazz affect women and nonbinary musician’s participation?  How do we move toward an equitable future to ensure that the art form reaches its full potential? How do we address the disparity and improve conditions to create a nurturing environment in which musicians on all parts of the gender spectrum can be supported in their education and careers?

Class Visits

Luciana Souza will be visiting the following classes. Some will be open to listeners, so if you are part of the MIT community and are interested in attending (muted, to allow the students to participate more fully), please contactsbwilson@mit.edu for more details.

MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble: Efficient Practice for Singers
Thursday, September 17, 2020 /  7-8:30pm

MIT VJE: Wordless Singing
Thursday, October 15, 2020 / 7-8:30pm

World Music: Overview of Brazilian Rhythms and Styles 

Rhythms of the World  

MIT VJE: Brazilian Composition Workshops

Composer Forum: Guillermo Klein and Luciana Souza

April 26, 2017 / 5:00pm
Lewis Music Library, 14E-109

Concert

Works on Hope—Luciana Souza & Guillermo Klein with the MIT Wind Ensemble, MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble, and MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble
April 28, 2017
8:00pm Concert
7:30pm Pre-Concert Talk
Kresge Auditorium, W16
48 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA

Part of ArtWeek 2017

The concert included a new work for Luciana Souza and the MIT Wind Ensemble, composed by Guillermo Klein based on poetry chosen by Klein.

Two of South America’s greatest jazz artists, Luciana Souza and Guillermo Klein, joined the MIT Wind Ensemble, MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble, and MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble in creating innovative new compositions and arrangements. The performance will represent the culmination of Klein’s and Souza’s MIT residency and a semester-long exploration of their music by the three MIT student ensembles. The evening’s highlight was the world premiere of Works on Hope by Klein for Souza and the MIT Wind Ensemble under the direction of Fred Harris. During the 7:30pm pre-concert ArtWeek talk, VJE director Liz Tobias and select MIT students discussed collaborating with Souza and Klein, the rationale behind the project, and the challenges and rewards of developing new works remotely and onsite with guest artists.

Genevieve Dempsey, Lecturer in World Music in Music and Theater Arts

Laura Grill Jaye, Director of the MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Frederick Harris, Director of the MIT Wind Ensemble and the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble and a Lecturer in Music in Music and Theater Arts

MIT Wind Ensemble

MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble

Leslie Tilley, Associate Professor, MIT Music and Theater Arts

Evan Ziporyn, Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Music in Music and Theater Arts and the Faculty Director of the MIT Center for Art, Science and Technology

Brazilian-born vocalist and Grammy winner Luciana Souza is a major figure in the worlds of vocal jazz and Latin music.

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Souza’s work transcends traditional boundaries around musical styles. Entertainment Weekly writes, “Her voice traces a landscape of emotion that knows no boundaries.” Souza has been releasing acclaimed recordings since 2002—including her six Grammy-nominated records, Brazilian Duos, North and South, Duos II, Tide, Duos III, and The Book of Chet. Her latest offering, Speaking in Tongues, is a brilliant collaboration with Lionel Loueke, Gregoire Maret, Massimo Biolcati, and Kendrick Scott. Souza has been a prominent soloist in important works by composers Osvaldo Golijov, Derek Bermel, and Patrick Zimmeri, performing with the New York Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the American Composers Orchestra.

Souza began her recording career at age three with a radio commercial. She spent four years at Berklee College of Music where she received a Bachelor’s in Jazz Composition. Souza earned a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory of Music and taught for four years at the Manhattan School of Music. She has twice been named Best Female Jazz Singer by the Jazz Journalists Association, in 2005 and 2013.

New York Times: Review: Luciana Souza’s Instrument, Her Voice

New York Times: Review: An Argentine Pianist and Composer’s Prismatic Experiments

NPR: Luciana Souza: From Bossa Nova To Chet Baker

San Diego Union Tribune: Luciana Souza sings, if not speaks, in tongues

Boston Globe: MIT ensembles tackle innovative works on CD, onstage

Down Beat: Best Albums of 2015

Down Beat: Review: Bigger and Better