Rubens de La Corte

The Brazil Years (until 1993)

Rubens de La Corte was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He began studying classical guitar at the age of nine. At 13, he started playing the electric guitar. By the age of 16, Rubens professional career, including performances at local clubs and theatres in Sao Paulo, had begun. He was performing regularly with the bands "Funkfarra", "Staff" and "Jotta Paulo e Banda Oculos Escuros".

Ulisses Rocha, the virtuoso and accomplished Brazilian guitar player, was Rubens guitar mentor and instructor for a great part of his Brazil Years. Ulisses guidance played a major role in shaping Rubens own skills as a guitar player and performer. Ulisses presence is felt to this day.

Rubens first project, as a leader, was �The Rubens de La Corte Group.� The ensemble performed Rubens� original compositions as well as Brazilian and Fusion standards. The group was active from 1987-1993.

Rubens played guitar in several musical theatre productions including:

* Little Shop Of Horrors (1992)
* Grease (1992)
* The Wiz (1993)
* Opera do Malandro (1993) Guitarist/Musical Director

From 1991-1993, Rubens performed with Brazilian singer/songwriter Marlui Miranda. Marlui Miranda is more than a singer; she is a cultural anthropologist. Marlui has lived with, learned the languages of and explored many of Brazil�s native tribes. Through her music, Marlui has passed on the histories and cultures of Brazil�s native people to future generations.

In addition to music, Rubens studied Architecture at Universidade de Sao Paulo-Sao Paulo, Brazil. Rubens received a Bachelors Degree in Architecture and Urban Studies in December 1992.

The Boston Years (1994-1998)

Rubens moved to Boston in 1994 to study at the Berklee College of Music. Rubens graduated in 1998, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelors Degree in Jazz Composition and Guitar Performance.

While in Boston, Rubens studied guitar, improvisation, arranging and composition with:

Charlie Banacos, Hal Crook, Mick Goodrick, Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Werner, Ed Tomasi, Brett Wilmott, Dave Newsam and Bruce Bartlett among others.

Awards Rubens received include:

* Berklee College of Music Guitar Department Award 1996
* Berklee Scholarship

In Boston, Rubens had extensive opportunities to teach guitar and music theory at:

*Berklee College of Music Learning Center
Harmony, Arranging and Jazz Composition Tutor

*Zumix Music School, East Boston
Guitar and Music Theory Instruction

Rubens performance career continued during his time in Boston. He was a member of Zabumbatuq and Conexao Brasil. Both groups performed live shows regularly in and around the Boston area.

Rubens co-founded and co-leads the group Brazz Jazz. Brazz Jazz began as a vocal/guitar duo performing Jazz and Brazilian Standards. Through out the years, Brazz Jazz has remained true to its original goal. They continue to perform in New York.

Brazz Jazz has twice toured Brazil, in support of their debut CD �Kick Off Your Shoes�, to remarkable success. Their CD has been the focus of several radio shows in Brazil, newspaper articles and a consistent seller in music stores.

�A fundamental aspect of Brazz Jazz, which sets them apart from their peers, is the choice of material� states Ayrton Martini. Martini a Brazilian music critic and producer adds, �Brazz Jazz escapes from the Bossa Nova as the obvious translation of Brazilian Jazz�. The repertoire choices are not the usual Jazz standards and the songs are chosen with good taste and originality�.

The New York Years (1998- present)

After completing his studies at Berklee, Rubens re-located to New York to begin a Masters Degree Program at Queens College (CUNY). Rubens successfully completed his Masters of Arts Degree in Jazz Performance in 2000.

While at Queens College, Rubens had the opportunity to study with: Wayne Krantz, Sir Roland Hanna, Michael Mossman , Mark Elf and Maestro Maurice Peres.

Rubens was invited by Queens Collage to teach a series of jazz workshops, which were held in several New York City Public Schools.

The highlight performance for Rubens, while at Queens College, was a concert given in honor of Louis Armstrong. Rubens performed as part of The Queens College Jazz Orchestra and had the pleasure of playing with jazz legends Wynton Marsalis and Jon Hendricks.

After obtaining his Masters Degree, Rubens was invited to be the Musical Director and Guitar Player for Sony/Columbia Records and multi Grammy Nominee, Angelique Kidjo. Prior to embarking on their first world tour together, Rubens recorded the guitar tracks for Angelique�s 2002 Grammy Nominated CD, �Black Ivory Soul�.

Rubens continues to perform with Angelique Kidjo. In the eight-year since they have teamed up, they have toured the world several times including concerts in Japan, Australia, Europe, the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa, USA, Canada and Anglelique�s home of Benin, West Africa.

As part of Angelique Kidjo�s group, Rubens had the opportunity to tour with:

Carlos Santana
Dave Matthews Band
Josh Groban
Neville Brothers
Macy Grey

In May 2004, the incomparable Brazilian-Jazz Pianist Eliane Elias (BMG) invited Rubens to join her group. They are currently touring Europe, Canada and the USA in support of Eliane�s current CD � Dreamer�.

With Eliane�s group, Rubens has had the opportunity to perform, on stage, with: Marc Johnson, Danny Gottlieb, Paulo Braga and Satoshi Takeishi.

Rubens has also performed with the following artists:

Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys, Caetano Veloso, Dave Matthews, David Byrne, Gilberto Gil, Lila Downs, Mino Cinelu, Manu Katche, Diane Reeves, Trilok Gurtu, Philip Glass, David Bowie, Ziggy Marley, Lokua Kanza, Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Machan Taylor, Soulive, Orishas, Lonnie Plaxico, Bill Summers, Vinicius Cantuaria, Willie Nelson, Michelle Branch, Sissel, Josh Groban, Jessye Norman, Laura Pausini, Ray Davies, Rufus Wainwright, Carmen Consoli, Louque, Petula Clark and String Cheese Incident.

Performances At Legendary Venues And Festivals Include:

2005 Live8-Africa Calling, 2002 Nobel Peace Prize Concert, Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, Nice Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Japan, EXPO 2002 Switzerland, AVO Sessions, Summerfest Germany, Africa Fest Germany, Bercy Expo, St. Lucia Jazz Festival, Bermuda Jazz Festival, Jazz Aspen, Tangelwood Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, Ravinia Festival, Jamaica Jazz Festival, Wolf Trap, Giants Stadium, Dodgers Stadium, Soldiers Field, Turner Field, Pac Bell Park, Foxboro Stadium, Texas Stadium, Summerfest Milwaukee, Hollywood Bowl, The Fillmore San Francisco, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Carnegie Hall

Television Appearance Include:

Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, NAACP Awards, MTV/VH1-Live8 Coverage, BBC Later With Jools Holland, CBS The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CBS This Morning, PBS Now With Bill Moyers, Fox News Chicago, Hamburg TV Germany, Stockholm TV4 Sweden, TV5 France, TV Globo Brazil Jo Soares Show.

Discography:

* Not An Ordynary Girl - Sheryl Cohen, 2003
* Black Ivory Soul - Angelique Kidjo, Columbia Sony, 2002
* Kick Off Your Shoes - Brazz Jazz, 1998
* Simplesmente Caboverdiana - Gardenia Benros, PolyGram, 1997
* Zabumbatuq - Zabumbatuq, 1996
* Timbaleiros - Conexao Brasil, 1996

In addition to his extensive tour schedule, Rubens is a studio musician with Crushing Music and NY-Noise in New York City. Crushing Music and NY-Noise are full service jingle houses whose clients include: Coca-Cola, Planters Peanuts and McDonalds.

If you have read this far, Rubens thanks you for your interest and your patience!