ABOUT
Brazilian Drummer and percussionist, Leonardo Susi was born in 1975 in a small city near Sao Paulo called Brotas. Leonardo Starts his study in 1991 with a particular teacher called Rogero Chiarinelli and therefore after, started a Conservatory of Music in Tatui, SP-Brazil. Took lessons from greats names of Brazilian music as: Maestro Nelson Ayres, Hermeto Pascoal, Marcio Bahia, Guello, Maestro Paulo Braga and Maestro Cesar Camargo Mariano. Also had lessons with Simon Philips drummer of Toto. Back in Brazil, gave class for 280 children in a music public school and worked in music clubs with different artists and bands.Based in Shanghai since 2003, has been playing in a very important Jazz Festivals and Jazz clubs as Percussionist and Drummer of Alec Haavik Band as known as, The Friction Five (see www.alechaavick.com), Nanjing International Jazz Festival as a member of the Australian trumpet player Toby Mak, Hanzhow Jazz Festival with Universal Quartet (see www.universalquartet.com), Hong Kong International Jazz Festival with Joao Mascarenhas Trio (see www.hkjazzfestival.com) and Shanghai JZ Music Festival 2010 playing with the French American Singer Chinas Moses and Chinese pop Singer Shunza. Also played with Shanghai Jazz Big Band as a percussionist and drummer, playing a live concert for the Shanghai TV at Shanghai Concert Hall, it was a tribute to the 150th anniversary of Mozart. Recorded and produced the first Latin CD in China called On the Road by the Colombian saxophone player Alvaro Cardenas. Also composed a song called Brotas & Cartagena. Played with great Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil. Enjoy the stage with the great singer Dee Dee Bridgewater. Recorded a beautiful Bossa Nova album called "When Bossa Nova meets Erhu" by the great erhu player Erick Lee. Played a live concert broadcasting (TV, radio) by Shanghai Media Group with Ma Xiaohui one of the best Erhu (chinese violin) Player in the word (see www.maxiaohui.com). Works as free lance and have regulars gigs in Shanghai with Alec Haavik and the Friction, give percussion and drum class at JZ School, play with own trio called SUPERLOUKOS composed by Nicholas Boloukus on Piano and Tinho Pereira on Bass and play with With Universal Quartet which is a mix of Brazilian music, Jazz, French music and Rock. In Beijing play at Jazz Bar called CJW (see www.cjwchina.com) and in Hong Kong with Joao Mascarenhas Trio (see www.joao-marcos.com), which play authentic Brazilian Music. Recently gave workshops for two International Schools in Beijing teaching the principals of Blues, Jazz and Latin music for drums set and talking about his life and career as a musician (see Beijing Kids magazine by Michelle Tsai). See interview at http://www.beijing-kids.com/magazine/2009/01/05/I-Want-to-Be-a-Drummer.Well-known for the versatility and creativity as drummer and percussionist, work with musicians from all world, playing various styles and genres.
