Album Notes

Under the influence of clube da esquina and bossa nova, João began playing the acoustic guitar at the age of twelve and electric guitar at fifteen, playing all kinds of music, from rock to samba. Ferraz lived for four years in USA studying music at Berklee College of Music and in 2005 he moved back to Brazil to live in Rio de Janeiro. João and created the production house Lontra Music, where he works as guitar player, producer and arranger.
His first album, SAPO was born while João was living overseas, but its debut only ocurred at the begin of 2007 in Brazil. Right at its release, the album received top stars at Globo, the biggest brazilian newspaper, Joao and his group where at the cover of Estado de Minas newspaper , the biggest of Minas Gerais, being considered the new generation of musicians from Minas like Milton Nascimento and Toninho Horta. The album was also claimed by the Canadians at the jazzwolrdquest.com. “an exuberant and elegant fusion of brazilian rhythms with modern jazz sounds. João Ferraz harmonies are reminscent of Toninho Horta´s sonorities and the album is recommended for those who want to hear what´s new and criative in the actual Brazilian music”.
For 2008-2009, Joao will be touring throught Brazil, for the release of his second album, MINEIRO BAO, alongside with his partners, Rike frainer on drums, Marcelo Penner on bass, Marco Tomaso on electric piano, Yuri Villar at the soprano sax, Fael Mondego on percussion and vocals and Marcela Velon on vocals. The album will also feature some fine guests from Brasil like GABRIEL GROSSI at the Harmonica, VITTOR SANTOS on trombone, SIDINHO MOREIRA on percussion, Joana Queiroz on clarinet, among others.