HeartBeat Brazil

HEARTBEAT BRAZIL: Following the motto, "Community in Rhythm," “HeartBeat Brazil” is an up-tempo, Brazilian extravaganza with an tasteful light and video show – bringing the streets and culture and rhythm of Brazil to America. 

Featuring mostly original music in brazilian rhythm and harmony, as well as stunning covers by the great composers such as Ivan Lins and Caetano Veloso, “HeartBeat Brazil” has been often lauded for it's deeply immersive show experience. 
 
“Heartbeat Brazil” had inaugural, sold-out shows at “Typhoon” in Santa Monica and at Vibrato Grill and Jazz (Herb Alpert's venue) with extraordinary reactions from audiences and venues.

STEPHAN OBERHOFF, Band Leader, Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals, Percussion

Stephan’s decades of work and touring as musical director of music icons such as Melissa Manchester, Brenda Russell, Jeffrey Osborne (a small excerpt of an extensive list of music industry giants) and his more than 10 years of travel and studying in Brazil have culminated in the creation of HeartBeat Brazil. Stephan is working closely with Quincy Jones on a studio album for singer/ songwriter Jason Gould.

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ROBERT KYLE, saxophone, flutes, percussion

Robert’s performance & recording credits include work with Cee Lo Green, Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald, Johnny Mathis, Jason Mraz, Chaka Khan, Michael Bolton, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Kenny Loggins, Brenda Russell, Lou Rawls, Seu Jorge, Googoosh, Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Pharrell, Blake Shelton, Babyface, Della Reese, Chaka Khan, Francisco Aguabella, Pete Escovedo, Jessica Simpson, Al McKibbon, Billy Mitchell, Roy “Guitar” Gaines and many others.

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SIMON CARROLL percussion, drums

Simon is a music director, performer, and composer for Viver Brasil – an Afro Brazilian dance company.
He leads/co-leads bands MôForro (Brazilian Forró), Marbella (Original Brazilian Jazz-Pop), Os Zagueiros (Samba Rock/Samba Soul), and Bloco Nove (Brazilian Celebration Music), and is a member of Samba Society (Vintage Samba), and Delta Nove (World Funk).

Simon is a classically trained musician at California State University of Northridge in Orchestral Percussion, Jazz, and Composition and also holds the position of timpanist for the Música Angélica Baroque Orchestra, which tours internationally with the opera The Giacomo Variations, starring John Malkovich.

Simon studied intensively throughout Brazil and Cuba and is the apprentice to the internationally renowned Brazilian percussionist Carlinhos Pandeiro de Ouro.

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MATT COOKER, Violoncello

Master Cellist Matt Cooker holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Michigan, where he played in master classes of Rostropovich and Piatigorsky.

A tenured member of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Matt has also played in international orchestras in Sacramento, Toledo, and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy.

His teaching credentials include U of M extensions, ISOMATA, the Henry Mancini Institute, and CalArts. Matt Cooker is a veteran recording artist who has worked on over 500 major motion pictures and recorded for Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Neil Diamond, and many others.