Brilho de Luz Band

Brilho de Luz Band is Brazilian Portuguese for Shining Light. Brilho de Luz takes listeners on an inspirational and melodious journey with their soulful and energizing rhythms. Their original music is composed of Afro-Brazilian beats strongly influenced by the samba, pagode and frevo music of Bahia, Brazil. The nine musicians and singers of Brilho de Luz fuse their sound with reggae, funk, soul, rock, rhythm & blues and hip-hop. The lyrics of their unique songs are sung in Portuguese and English. They play a variety of Brazilian and African percussion and folkloric instruments. Brilho de Luz inspires their audience with the timbal, surdo, djembe, congas, bacurinha, biribal, electric violin, flute, saxophone, piano, bass, guitar, and traditional drum set. A special feature of the show is a Capoeira presentation. Capoeira is an ancient Brazilian martial art. Brilho de Luz's performance also includes the choreography of Brazilian and African dancers. Brilho de Luz has brought down the house at some of New York's hottest nightclubs and restaurants. They have also electrified their fans at outdoor festivals, colleges, corporate parties and state-sponsored cultural events. Brilho de Luz invites the young and old of all cultures to connect with their positive message and dance to its passionate beats! Let Brilho de Luz shine its light upon your soul!

Band Members' Bios

	Binho Shining Composer, Vocalist and Percussionist The creative musician, Jailson "Binho" da Silva was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The unique Afro Bahian sound influenced Binho since he was born. At age 7 he started playing percussion under the tutelage of his older brother, Jorge, "Mad Max" Barata who was one of the band members to play with Carlinos Brown. Binho developed his talents as a composer, vocalist and percussionist. In Brazil, he toured with Master Senac, Band Connection and Ile Aiye. With Ile Aiye, the largest Afro-Brazilian band, Binho performed with accomplished artists as Beto Jamaica, Tatau do Ara ketu and Margareth Menezes. Binho's talents were next recognized in Europe as a percussionist and vocalist. He toured Germany, Spain, Italy, England, France, Switzerland and Morocco with Heath Hunter, an R&B German recording artist. His performances were also shown on European television and in the press. Beginning in 2001 in the United States, Binho has performed with Silvana Magda, Silvia Barnes, Omar Ben Hassan from The Last Poets, and the Café Wha Band. Binho performed at some of the hottest clubs in New York City including SOB's, Pacha and Copacabana to name a few. In 2007, Binho has performed on national television, Fox 5 The Mike and Juliet Show. He is a much sought after composer and arranger of lyrics, rhythms and melodies. His universal genres include Brazilian, African, reggae, rap, soul, funk, R&B, rock, jazz, etc. Binho Shining is the co-owner of Brilho de Luz's record label, Brazil Brooklyn Connection, Inc. Brilho de Luz has provided Binho Shining a band and structure to carry out his original songs and musical vision. His inner brilliance and need to express himself as a musician and poet has led him to create unique rhythms, lyrics and songs on an almost daily basis... Braa!
	Senfu'ab Stoney Composer, Vocalist and Percussionist Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, with Panamanian roots, Senfu'ab Stoney has been playing percussion since he was six years old. His parents, who are both musicians and his strongest musical influence, gave him the priceless gift of the love for music and his favorite drum, a djembe. Senfu'ab's passion is to create music at its greatest level, and he continues to strive for perfection. Recently Senfu'ab has performed and worked with Wycleff, KRS 1, Roots, and Ankrah. In 2006, he performed on national television on the BET Hip Hop awards and also on MTV's Making the Band 4. Senfu'ab has played with groups such as Indoda, a percussion group which he created drum arrangements for, Forces of Nature, a theatre group based in New York City, Ile Aiye in the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn, Silvana Magda at S.O.B.'s and other venues, Heritage, Asasseya, and Spark a Genius, S. Productions. Senfu also teaches and performs at Studio 22 in Long Island, a music school for children. Senfu'ab Stoney is the co-owner of the production company, Shift Happens. Shift Happens is a full scale production company that creates tracks, film scores, beats and jingles. Senfu is a talented vocalist, pianist and composer. He has toured expansively, playing music for people of all ethnicities. Brilho de Luz is special to Senfu because the band gives him a chance to perform, mix and record his own compositions... Broo
	M'ten Halsey Rapper and Percussionist Born in Brooklyn and rooted in African-centered thinking, percussionist and spoken word artist M'ten Halsey is a product of an upstanding and talented family. He has traveled around the world spreading his cultural message with his spirited drum rhythms and powerful lyrics. M'ten has been drumming since he was 5 years old. Some of his travels include performances in London, the Bahamas and throughout the United States. He also has performed with numerous companies such as Asaseyaa Drum & Dance Troupe as well as Bennu Ausar Dancers & Drummers. M'ten has taught in many settings for private students and large classes including Ausar Auset School in Brooklyn and Gloria Eve Performing Arts Foundation. M'ten says "my goals are to preserve African-American culture through music and to promote cultural awareness because it seems people forget or don't know our roots and how powerful we are." M'ten met the like-minded musicians Senfu and Binho in Brooklyn, NY, and joined them to complete the founding trio that makes Brilho de Luz Band... Bre!
	Ricardo Palma Guitarist and Mixing Engineer Ricardo Palma was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and started to play guitar at the age of 12. He performed at several large venues and opened for well-known rock bands by the age of 15. At the age of twenty, Ricardo Palma came to New York City where he started to work with some of the best Brazilian musicians including, Paulo Braga, Grupo Rastape and Pimenta Malagueta. Ricardo has played regularly at established venues such as CBGB's, SOB's, Bitter End, Club Cinema (FL.) and Tuxedo Junction (CT). He has produced and engineered CD's of many different styles of music from heavy metal to reggae to classical to techno. Ricardo has performed with Brilho de Luz Band since 2003. He is the mixing engineer for Brilho de Luz's first CD, "Ghetto Around the World." Ricardo is well-respected in the music industry because very few guitarists can mix genres in their performances and recordings. Samba-reggae and heavy metal is not a contradiction for Ricardo!
	Ilya Janos Drum Set and Percussionist Due to Ilya's cultural make up of Ecuadorian, Mexican and Hungarian roots Ilya's is comfortable with a fusion of musical sounds. In Texas he grew up listening to a variety of Latin music. Ilya studied drumming and dance in Conakry, Guinea in West Africa. In Bahia and Rio de Janeiro he learned Brazilian drumming and dance. He has also studied piano, saxophone and guitar. In 2006 he performed djembe at the Latin Grammy's on national television with Luis Fonsi. In 2007, as part of the subway idol competition, he performed on Fox 5 national television with his own percussion group, Paliche. The last four years he has performed in New York City at major clubs with many DJ's and bands. Prior to that he performed 11 years in Houston, Texas.
	Miho Nobuzane Keyboard Miho Nobuzane was born in Osaka, Japan and began study on classical piano at YAMAHA at the age of 4. She graduated from "Kobe Yamate Woman's Junior College" as a classical piano major. After graduation, she was inspired by Jazz and studied and started performing Jazz, Brazilian jazz, and some other world music in different clubs in Japan. In 1996, she moved into New York and soon took her place in various bands for all kinds of music (Brazilian, Jazz, R&B, Funk, Motown, African fusion, Latin Jazz, Salsa, Caribbean music, and more) and performed all over the U.S, Martinique, and Indonesia. In March 2007, Miho produced her debut album "Make YOU Happy" - Super grooving Brazilian Jazz for making everyone happy! Miho's music has been played on radio stations in Australia, Latin America, Europe, and USA (including WBGO 88.3FM). "La gua gua" radiomix 89.1 FM in Buenos Aires, Argentina had the Miho Nobuzane Brazilian jazz special and played Miho's music. Her debut album "Make YOU Happy" has made it to best CDs of 2007 top 10 by "Fiesta Jazz" (PBS FM106.7 in Australia). She has played and/or recorded with; A legendary drummer Bernard "pretty" Purdie, Tony Award nominee on "Color Purple" and a Blue Note record lebel artist Elisabeth Withers, award winner Brazilian group Grupo Saveiro, Sergio Brandao, Paulo Braga, Ze Luis, Vanderlei Pereira, Helio Schiavo, Nilson Matta, Valtinho, Cafe, David Finck, Ricky Sebastian, Rodney Holmes, Bobby Thomas, Kenny Davis, Darryl Hall, John Lee, Stanley Banks, John Benitez, Octavio Kotan, Ernest Simpson, David Gilmore, Rhythm Nation band, Jerry Elcock, Burt Conrad all stars, Abdou Mboup & Waakaw, Paul Simon's bassist Bakithi Kumalo group, Dominic Kanza & African Rhythm Machine, Francis Mbappe-FM tribe, Jojo Kuo Afro beat collective, Jimmy Mgwandi & Ntomb'Khona Dlamini-Safro, African Blue Note, Buddy Hankerson, A.C Drummer, and many others.
	ZE GREY BASS PLAYER ZE GREY Ze Grey is an accomplished Brazilian Bass Player born in Rio de Janeiro who has been living in the U.S. since 1994. His unique style and masterful technical skills have not only established him as a respected musician in his own country, but have gained him a strong reputation on the New York Music Scene. He is the Co-founder of the number one Brazilian Band in the U.S. Brazooca Band, as well as the famous Monday Night at Cafe Wha? (It has been running since 1996..!!!). Grey is known as a superbly versatile player who is capable of diverse styles. His bass-playing is marked by its creativity and masterful sense of rhythm. Grey's contribution to the Music industry has been exceptional, and he has collaborated with celebrated artists such as Slide Hampton (2 time Grammy-Award Winner, N.E.A. Jazz Master), Delmar Brown (Sting, Miles Davis, Peter Gabriel, Solo Artist), Kenwood Dennard (Professor at Berklee College of Music, Quincy Jones, Sting), Angelique Kidjo (African Pop Star, Grammy-Award winner), Evan Farmer (MTV), Nestor Torres (Grammy-Award winner), John Macaluso (Yngwie Malmsteen, TNT, Ark, James Labrie), Jonathan Mover (Aretha Franklin, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Producer), Alain Malett (Professor at Berklee College of Music, Paul Simon, Producer), Danielle Bollinger (Top 40 Dance music artist),Tony Cedras (Paul Simon, Solo Artist, Producer), Keith Carlock (Sting, Steely Dan), Didi Gutman (Brazilian Girls Band), Troels Skovgaard (The Bamboo Brothers), Brazooca Band (The #1 Brazilian Band in the U.S.) amongst many others...

De bre, de bru, de bra!

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