The musician conjuring up the most vibrant images of Brazil across London
Music is so much more than just one thing – especially for Luiz Morais. When he stands in front of an audience with his trusted seven-string in hand and begins to serenade attendees with songs from across his two solo albums, it’s a way to celebrate his culture, share his passion and entertain people.
The process is, however, also something that he admits has ‘political implications’. Luiz explains:
“You are interacting with society. You are delivering things. You are stating your views of the world artistically.”
That is the power of music and – in this case – it’s a power that’s wielded so elegantly by Luiz, who weaves intricate and vibrant sounds that are inspired by his home country of Brazil. It’s this sound that has made him a musical success – and there’s plenty of evidence to back this up.
You can find Luiz involved in multiple acts that are operating in London, including as part of the choro band Alvorada and as a guitar duo alongside his friend Ariel Gragnani.
He’s also achieved acclaim through two solo albums, including the 2013 record Nascente, which helped him win a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music to study a master’s degree in Performance.
Meanwhile, his second album, In The Weave, was released in 2021 and – as you can probably imagine from the date – was recorded under vastly different circumstances from the first. With the world constantly in and out of lockdowns at the time, Luiz used the pandemic as an opportunity to put the finishing touches on his second solo offering.
Speaking about the restrictions brought on by the outbreak of COVID-19, he says:
“Actually, that was a good time because I had time to work very carefully with the arrangements and the compositions. And then, miraculously, I was able to do the recording.”
In The Weave was produced by legendary trombonist and arranger Vittor Santos and includes instrumentalists such as Marcio Bahia on drums and Marcelo Martins on flutes and alto sax. It’s strange but comforting to think that something so wonderful could have been created during a time that was so turbulent for so many.
Of course, a young Luiz probably never could have dreamed that he’d be making an album under those conditions when he was growing up in Brazil. He was raised in a northeastern city called Fortaleza, which is roughly 2,300km away from Rio de Janeiro.
If you close your eyes, it’s not hard to conjure up those vibrant images of Brazil. It can almost feel like rhythm is something that flows through the streets there and touches everyone it meets. Well, this is much more than just the power of imagination and was instead very much a reality for Luiz during his early years.
“It’s a very sunny place where there is a lot of music happening. Popular culture, it’s all around,” says Luiz. “It’s a very, very strong culture of singing, dancing, playing, so in my childhood I had access to all those things. That’s how I began.”
Of course, Luiz wasn’t the only person who was bitten by the bug and notes how his father and his friends were themselves no strangers to picking up an instrument or two. Luiz – who lists musicians such as Tom Jobim, Moacir Santos, Edu Lobo and Hermeto Pascoal as his influences – points out that it was a friend’s dad who really inspired him to prove just what he could do with a guitar.
He reveals:
“[My friend’s] father seemed to be much, much cooler and much better at the guitar than my dad. Obviously, he was my best mate, so, when he started to play now, I started just learning with him.”
Despite a lack of formal training, Luiz fell in love with the craft so much that he soon began to believe that he could become a professional. This then inspired him to study Brazilian Popular Music at the University of Rio de Janeiro.
Luiz describes the city as ‘the centre of Brazilian music’. While studying, he had the chance to try his hand at different instruments, including the flute and bass. However, it was during this time where he became most skilled with his go-to instrument: the seven-string guitar.
The seven-string is typically used in genres such as choro and samba and has now become the essence of his signature sound. He explains: “So it’s a very, very lively style, very naughty that is similar to jazz, but with Brazilian rhythms.”
When you listen to Luiz speak – much like when you listen to him perform – it’s easy to grasp just how much appreciation he has for the culture and history of his land. Even when he speaks about the ‘sad moments in history’ in which European colonisers headed west, he’s quick to note that it’s one of the reasons for the ‘very rich culture’ that you see today.
Luiz muses:
“In Brazil, the story was pretty much the same where you had European dances such as polkas, mazurkas, all the harmony that was developed in classical music blended together with the African and indigenous elements.”
He adds: “So we ended up with very, very diverse and rich music. That’s the origin of choro.”
Luiz must surly have wrestled with the decision to leave the country, in which he had so much appreciation for. However, in 2011 the decision was made and he was bound for England. Last year was his tenth anniversary since moving to London.
It’s been a brilliant thing for the people of the UK who have been exposed to his unique sound. Luiz calls it ‘Brazilian Jazz’ and it’s certainly something that people should be – and are – going out of their way to enjoy either in person or online.
Describing this style, Luiz says: “It’s the rhythmic tradition, the rhythmic force present in Brazilian music with the whole improvisation side, the sophistication of the harmony of jazz and classical music. So it’s actually a mix.”
While Luiz has begun to grow his fan base and extend the reach of his music, he’s always been careful not to lose sight of what makes it stand out. In particular, Luiz is conscious not to fall into the trap that other artists do when growing their brand – and says that he makes a point to operate outside the ‘system that governs the music industry’.
He argues:
“The fact that I’m not involved in the processes that happen in the mainstream where the quality of the music sometimes goes very low and things happen mostly with the focus on the money itself and the mass culture.”
Nevertheless, Luiz has found success and has done so through numerous projects. This includes the aforementioned quintet Alvorada, which was formed in 2016 and launched its first album, First Light, in 2019. That same year they won Best Band at the Focus Brazil Awards and Best Brazilian Act in the LUKAS Awards.
The joy that he gets out of performing with some similarly minded artists – as well as the general thrill that comes from sharing his passion – is one of the reasons why he doesn’t hesitate to brand the pandemic as ‘tragic’ for his professional life.
Luiz reveals: “It was very, very tricky, professionally, having to have a forced break of over a year without a single gig. Now, there’s that saying that everything has a positive.”
There’s no doubt that Luiz must have missed bringing his music to others for such long periods of time, not to mention sharing the stage with others. In particular, it delayed the grand plans that he shared with his friend and band mate Ariel Gragnani.
While both he and Ariel (who is also Brazilian) have lived in the UK for a number of years, they actually hadn’t met until 2018. Upon meeting, they hit it off and the pair are now a duo act. It’s certainly not hard to detect the admiration that Luiz has for his fellow musician.
“Ariel Gragnani is an exceptional guitarist,” he gushes. “He is absolutely wonderful!”
The two actually come from different musical backgrounds, with Ariel having attended the prestigious Royal Academy of Music. Luiz is extremely excited about continuing to share their sound with the world, with the next big opportunity happening when they perform together at upcoming festivals.
“We’ve been playing concerts constantly since we met,” explains Luiz. “Musically, there is a very nice blend of influences – him coming from this classical background and myself coming from a more popular background.”
This is a great way to understand how Luiz has a wider appreciation for music. He doesn’t just co-exist alongside the many different styles that run through London, but also works together with them where possible. Indeed, he is forward-thinking and happy to experiment.
In fact, Luiz isn’t really that opposed to the technological advancements that have seeped into the music industry. No, we’re not talking about tools such as auto-tuning that can make a person’s sound become almost synthetic, but instead the ability for an artist to create music at home and share it online – two processes that Luiz enjoys.
However, he’s conscious that art requires depth and musicians shouldn’t feel the rush brought on by technology to produce music at a rapid rate. He reveals: “I love melodies. I do music and aiming for beauty, depth and clarity. That doesn’t necessarily have to do with technology it seems.”
Luiz does have the opportunity to spread this admirable ethos because, as well as his own music career, he has also been known to contribute to the education of others. He’s been active in hosting workshops in schools, colleges and universities – including a two-week stint at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
While Luiz must feel pressure to make sure he gets the message right when talking to other musicians, there’s something quite honest and compassionate about the way in which he frames his advice.
When asked what he would recommend to others, he says he’d tell them:
“Don’t let the stresses and pressures of the commercial world dominate your creative voice. Be disciplined and focused and follow your dreams!”
Of course, Luiz’s wisdom extends beyond just those in the music industry. Instead, it’s a message that people can take on board no matter what creative endeavour they are pursuing.
It’s not hard to get the sense that Luiz himself is also aware of the fact that he’ll continue to grow musically, which is certainly something that both new and old fans can look forward to.
He says: “Ultimately, creating anything worthwhile will be challenging, and it is within the challenge that we grow and expand.”
All in all, growth is necessary for any musician that wants to keep developing and perfecting their style – but there’s no need to wait for Luiz to evolve if you’re looking to enjoy the most colourful sounds Brazil.
Instead, it’s worth hearing right now.