Arnaldo DeSouteiro

Origin

Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Years active

1979

Genres

bossa nova, jazz, mpb, samba

Instruments

piano

Biography

Arnaldo DeSouteiro is a prominent Brazilian music producer, arranger, filmmaker, journalist, and educator born in Rio de Janeiro in 1963. Over a prolific career spanning decades, he has worked on over a thousand record titles, collaborations, and reissues, establishing himself as a vital bridge between Brazilian music and the international jazz scene. As a journalist, he began writing for Tribuna da Imprensa in 1979 and contributed to numerous international publications like Billboard and Keyboard, eventually becoming a voting member of the Grammy Awards and NARAS.

DeSouteiro has produced albums and directed shows for legendary Brazilian artists such as João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Eumir Deodato, João Donato, and Ithamara Koorax. His work extends across major international labels like Verve and CTI Records, curating acclaimed compilations such as CTI Acid Jazz Grooves and the A Trip To Brazil series, which topped European world music charts. Relocating to Los Angeles in 1999, he founded Jazz Station Records (JSR) and continued producing influential records, including the critically acclaimed Brazilian Match featuring Luiz Millan.

In addition to his extensive discography, DeSouteiro has made significant contributions to film and television as a director, writer, and soundtrack producer. He collaborated with filmmaker Walter Salles Jr. on celebrated music documentaries and has been featured in projects like Beyond Ipanema. Alongside his creative output, he is an active educator, lecturing on the rich history and global impact of Brazilian musicians at institutions like SESC-SP and USP, cementing his legacy as a foremost authority on MPB and bossa nova.