Biographies
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Mônica Vasconcelos | : | (Lead vocals, Percussion, Composition) | |||||||||
| Steve Lodder | : | (Keyboards, Composition, Arranging) | ||||||||||
| Davide Mantovani | : | (Bass Guitars) | ||||||||||
| Ife Tonentino | : | (Guitar, Arranging, Composition) | ||||||||||
| Chris Wells | : | (Drums , Percussion) | ||||||||||
| Ian Pattinson | : | (Percussion, Drums) | ||||||||||
| Paul Jayasinha | : | (Trumpet, Flugel Horn, Composition) | ||||||||||
| Ingrid Laubrock | : | (Alto/Soprano Saxes, Backing Vocals) | ||||||||||
| Paul Nieman ! |
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(Trombone, Arranging & web site) |
Mônica Vasconcelos (Lead Vocals, Percussion, Composition) began her career in Sâo Paulo, where she was born. She performed in bars, clubs, at parties and at festivals when 17 years old. At the age of 18 Mônica went to study publishing at Sâo Paulo University. During her University years she worked on jingles for TV and radio, and recorded many backing vocals. She joined the vocal/drama group Beijo, which specialized in large vocal arrangements of Brazilian and world music and recorded a CD in 1991. (photo)
In 1992 Mônica came to England to form Nóis two years later. They released their first album in 1996. The record is available in Great Britain via Triple Earth and in Brazil via the prestigious Eldorado label. They have also exported to Japan, USA, Germany, France, Italy, Greece and Israel.
In 1998 Nóis was awarded a grant by the Arts Council of England. Nóis toured England and were one of the highlights at Brecon Jazz 98, the biggest jazz festival in the UK. They have just played another prestigious date at the British jazz calendar, Cheltenham Jazz 99. They also supported Brazilian music god Gilberto Gil at a sold out concert at the Barbican Hall in 1996.
Singing with her small ensemble, the quartet As Meninas. She has been featured on Radio One' s Andy Kershaw Show and Radio 3' s Night Waves Programme.
Apart from her own projects Mônica has also recorded for a number of London based musicians, amongst them pianist Roland Perrin, saxophonist John O'Neall and singer Ashley Slater (Freak Power). In 1966 she toured England singing alongside Norma Winstone, Christine Tobin and Jacqui Dankworth as part of saxophonist Tim Garland's Songs Of Love And Liberty project.
Steve Lodder (Keyboards, Arranging, Composition) www.stevelodder.com Steve has been involved in writing and performing in many different musical environments including theatre, television and film as well as working with bands on the jazz scene. He`s worked with Carol Grimes, George Russel, Brian Abrahams` District Six, Jim Pepper, Ernestine Anderson and regularly with Andy Sheppard in various groupings including: In Co-Motion and the trio with Naná Vasconcelos, Inclassificable. He also runs his own band the Steve Lodder Quartet.
It is with British saxophonist Andy Shepard that Steve has found his most fruitful partnership. With Shephard Steve has toured the world, recorded and co-produced several albums. (photo)
On the classical scene, Steve has worked with saxophonist John Harle in many projects. One of them, Terror And Magnificence, featured Elvis Costello on vocals. More recently, Steve worked with Paul Mccartney on his symphonic poem Standing Stone.
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Davide Mantovani (Bass Guitars) Born in Ferrara, Italy, Davide began learning the piano at the age of six. In 1982 he took up the bass and has since mastered a wide variety of styles. In 1991 he based himself in London, touring and performing with the Funk Ambassadors, Robin Jones - King Salsa, song writer Francesco Guccini and guitarist Antonio Forccione. He has appeared on Pebble Mill with Flamenco guitarist Juan Martin and has recorded with Roberto Manes and the steel drum based quartet Steel Feel. (photo)
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Ife Tolentino (Guitar, Arranging, Composition) Ife has worked with many of Brazil`s leading musicians and composers including Toninho Horta, Fagner and João Donato. He directed his own band Santarém and performed on major TV networks as well as touring and recording. He has run music courses in conse rvatories in São Paulo where he was born. Ife has lived in London for nearly three years, where he plays, writes and arranges music for Brazilian bands. (photo)
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Chris Wells (Percussion, Drums) Born in London in 1968, studied at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, graduating in 1990. Since then Chris has recorded and performed throughout Europe with Carla Bley & Steve Swallow, Andy Sheppard, Randy Brecker, Nelson Rangell, John Harle, Karl Jenkins, Maria Friedman, London Sinfonietta, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, as well as on numerous television and radio broadcasts.
As a composer, he was recently awarded 3rd place and Highly Commended in the Latin and World Music sections respectively of the 1997 UNISONG International Song Contest for the songs Samba da Ponte & Atabaque. he is currently writing and producing album projects for Brazilian singers Mônica Vasconcelos, (with whom he opened Gilberto Gils London concert at the Barbican) and Valdo Silva, along with another for Memphis singer/pianist Charlie Wood. He is also recording an album of original material for an ensemble consisting of 2 guitars, 2 marimbas and 2 pianos plus string quartet, for release later this year (1998) .
Additionally, Chris Wells is writing film & TV music for Chappell Recorded Music Library, for whom he has worked since 1994, along with various projects for other publishers, ranging from solo piano to ethnic percussion. (photo)
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Paul Jayasinha (Trumpet, Flugel Horn, Composition) Born in London from Sri Lankan father and British mother. Paul has performed extensively in Europe with the Mike Westbrook Orchestra, Grand Union and with Lindsay Cooper`s Sahara Dust. He has also worked with many Salsa, Brazilian and folk groups. Paul has recorded with Ed Bentley, Tim Garland and Brand New Heavies. He also has his own quartet. (photo)
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Ingrid Laubrock (Alto/Soprano Saxes, Backing Vocals) ingridlaubrock.com Ingrid Laubrock was born in Stadtlohn,a small town in Germany, in 1970.She started having music lessons as young as 4 years old and began to play classical piano and sing in local choirs from the age of eight..Her first recording experience dates from that time, singing the solo voice in an arrangement for accapella choir on the town’s record. Throughout her childhood she performed in church choirs and public concerts at the local music school.In 1989 Ingrid left Germany for London where she took up the alto saxophone.
A year of studies with ex-Jazz Messenger Jean Toussaint followed in 1992.Soprano(now her main voice) and tenor followed shortly afterwards. In 1993 she met Monica Vasconcelos and Ife Tolentino, both from Sao Paulo in Brazil. Ingrid is one of the founder member of Brazilian quartet ‘AS MENINAS’. Her debut album ‘WHO IS IT' was released in 1998,the second,‘SOME TIMES’ (featuring JulianSiegel, Nikki Iles and Byron Wallen) was recorded in January and released in May 2001,both on Candid Records.
In August 1998 and 1999, Ingrid took part in 6-day masterclasses run by world-renowned saxophonist and educator David Liebman in Stroudsburg, PA. She was nominated as ‘Rising Star of the Year’in the British Jazz Awards for 1999. Also in 1999 Ingrid completed the postgraduate jazz course at the Guildhall School Of Music & Drama.During that year she studied and performed with David Liebman, Kenny Wheeler, Billy Cobham, Stan Sulzman and Jean Toussaint.. (photo)
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Paul Nieman (Trombone, Arranging) Born in London, son of the composer Alfred Nieman, studied music at Chiswick Polytechnic under the direction of Brian Richardson, who was infectiously passionate on the subject. Subsequently on to study trombone at the Guildhall School of Music. Whilst a student Paul embarked on an eclectic career which includes jazz, pop, early and classical music, contemporary music and more recently Salsa and Brazilian music. At one stage he ran his own band "Elephant" which included Steve Lodder, with whom he also had a duo. He has recorded and broadcast with many artists, among them - Carol Grimes, Mike Westbrook, Stan Tracey, Diana Ross, George Harrison, Brian Eno, The Stranglers and Gil Evans. Paul is also the webmaster for these pages. If you'd like to contact him click here.
