An internationally awarded classical pianist, João Carlos Assis Brasil has also served as a popular instrumentalist and arranger. Assis Brasil started to perform as a classical piano soloist at 15. He also studied in London (England), Paris (France), and Vienna (Austria), where he won third place in the International Beethoven Festival, followed by performances with the Vienna Philharmonic and a tour through Europe. On the popular scene, he has been interpreting songs by his late brother, jazz saxophonist/composer Vítor Assis Brasil, by Tom Jobim and by himself. He has also worked with Turíbio Santos, Clara Sverner (with whom he recorded instrumental piano albums dedicated to Erik Satie, George Gershwin, and Maurice Ravel), Wagner Tiso, Zé Renato, Alaíde Costa, Ney Matogrosso (with whom he recorded Villa-Lobos' "Floresta do Amazonas"), Olívia Byington, and other top performers. ~ Alvaro Neder