artist info

Three-time Latin Grammy nominee Jovino Santos Neto, a master pianist, composer and arranger, is one of the most important Brazilian musicians working today. Currently based in Seattle, Washington, he has throughout his career been closely affiliated with the Brazilian master Hermeto Pascoal.  He was an integral part of Pascoal's group from 1977 to1992, where he fine-tuned his artistry, performing around the world and co-producing several legendary records. 

Jovino’s personal style is a creative blend of energetic grooves, deep harmonies, telepathic improvisation, lyrical melodies and great ensemble playing, always inspired and informed by the colorful richness of Brazilian music.

Currently, Jovino leads his Seattle-based Quinteto and Trio. He taught piano and composition at Cornish College of the Arts for 26 years. He can also be heard around the world as a piano soloist, working with symphony orchestras, jazz big bands, chamber music groups, and in collaboration with musicians such as his mentor Hermeto Pascoal, Bill Frisell, Paquito d’Rivera, Airto Moreira, Claudio Roditi, David Sanchez, Joe Locke, Anat Cohen and many more.

Since moving to the US from his native Rio de Janeiro in 1993, Jovino Santos Neto has continued to tour the world and to record prolifically.  He has recorded multiple CDs with his Seattle-based Quinteto, including Canto do Rio, nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2004. In 2006 Adventure Music released Roda Carioca with an all-Brazilian lineup including Joyce, Hermeto Pascoal and several other notable musicians, earning him a second Latin Grammy nomination. In 2007, after receiving a special commission from Brazil’s Petrobras, Jovino composed and recorded Alma do Nordeste, a musical journey translating the essence of Northeastern Brazil into melodies, rhythms and improvisations – connecting regional, universal, imaginary and real stories. In 2008 he released a piano duo with Weber Iago, Live at Caramoor, also nominated for a Latin Grammy award in 2009. In 2010 Veja o Som (See the Sound) was released, a double disc collection of duos with musicians such as Bill Frisell, Joe Locke, Paquito d’Rivera, Anat Cohen, João Donato, Airto Moreira, Joyce, Paula Morelenbaum and Monica Salmaso, among others. In 2011 Adventure Music released Corrente (Current) featuring his Quinteto performing all new original music. Jovino also recorded Guris, a piano duo with Brazilian pianist André Mehmari celebrating the music of Hermeto Pascoal in 2016, and Por Causa de Você, a live recording with his Quinteto celebrating the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim in 2018.

Jovino’s compositions have been performed by the Seattle Symphony, NDR Big Band in Hamburg, Swiss Jazz Orchestra, and by numerous jazz and chamber music groups. Jovino gives lectures, clinics and master classes worldwide on a variety of musical topics, including the connection between Music and Nature.

Jovino has received commissions by the Cheswatyr Foundation, IAJE, ASCAP, CMA/Doris Duke Foundation, Jack Straw Foundation, the City of Seattle, 4Culture, Artist Trust and Meet the Composer. He has been artist in residence at some of the most prestigious music schools in the world. In 2012 he was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame and his Quinteto won as Best Northwest Acoustic Group in the Golden Ear Awards by Earshot Jazz in 2012, 2015 and 2018. He also was awarded an Artist Trust Fellowship in Music in 2012. He composed a live score to a 1927 silent film, The Unknown and also premiered a new piece for orchestra, Milonga da Emília in 2018 in Aarhus, Denmark. His orchestration of Hermeto Pascoal’s Suite Universal was premiered in January 2019 by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Jovino was featured in NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert in October 2019. In 2022, Jovino toured the UK conducting the National Youth Jazz Orchestra along with his mentor Hermeto Pascoal. He also led the Luzern University Jazz Orchestra and the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra playing Hermeto’s music.

** The Jovino Santos Neto Quinteto has been rehearsing steadily in preparation for our upcoming run of two concerts at the Alley. They will play a unique performance each night, without repeating any compositions. They will also distribute free music scores for any musician who comes to the shows at the Alley.