Biography
The musician Engels Espiritos is one of the most versatile, expressive and respected harmonica players of Brazil, who brings a fusion composition between Afro-American music and Brazilian music.
An artist internationally recognized, who has already played in circuits and fests from several countries likewise: Canada, the USA and countries of Europe.
He began his musical studies in lyrical singing course at EMB ( Music College of Brasilia) and it was the technical basis for the survey and practice of the sounds, tones and soul of the expression of many Blues/Jazz/Rock singers. Black Music has always been his greatest aim.
Engels Espiritos is self-taught and the pioneer to work with harmonicas in Brasilia city. He developed the first harmonica course with his own methodology, and was responsible for the first generation of professional harmonica players in town. And was also the first harmonica player to present shows of Afro-American Music in fusion to Brazilian music in the city.
He is a researcher who tried to know deeply the harmonica in its origin, history and trajectory covering all of the most varied characteristics of this instrument.
Joining the Brazilian Orchestra of Harmonica in Curitiba city, under master Cazallas` orientation and teaching, he learned luthieria: the main techniques of harmonica maintenance ( tuning, restoration, technical adjustment and pieces replacement).
In Toronto -Canada he was invited by the virtuous Canadian harmonica player Carlos Del Junco to go through an improvement of his techniques in the use of chromatization in diatonic harmonicas.
In Detroit -USA he participated in SPAH (the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica – a Worldwide Convention of Harmonica players) in order to study the harmonica’s history and techniques aiming for its conservation and development.
Engels Espiritos Band
Engels Espiritos sings and plays his own compositions, and also includes classics of Black music in his set list. The main influences on his music is the magic of Blues, the swing of Funk and the strength of Rock`n`Roll, all structured on an instrumental basis heading for improvisation. His lyrics show many sides of the human condition and feeling in its different levels.
Engels Espiritos not only explore the musical possibilities of the harmonica but also has a strong influence from other instruments as violin, accordion and mainly guitar on his solos.
His music, despite of the influences, doesn’t carry labels. So there is no definition in its essential structure, and it will always be open to the experimentalism and to the composition of styles and sounds quality.
