Ary Dias

Origin

Salvador, BA

Years active

1970

Genres

música popular brasileira, jazz fusion, instrumental, pop rock

Instruments

bateria, percussão

Biography

Ary Dias is a renowned Brazilian drummer, percussionist, and composer born in Salvador, Bahia. The musician has a solid classical background from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) and was a member of the Bahia Symphony Orchestra, in addition to being one of the founders of the UFBA Contemporary Music Group alongside names like Ernest Widmer and Lindenberg Cardoso. He also collaborated with researcher Walter Smetak on projects about microtones and founded the Banda do Companheiro Mágico, marking a pioneering presence by introducing the drum kit to electric trios during the Bahia carnival alongside Armandinho, Dodô & Osmar.

Moving to Rio de Janeiro at the invitation of Moraes Moreira, Ary Dias consolidated his career by joining the celebrated instrumental group A Cor do Som, alongside musicians such as Dadi and Armandinho, achieving great national and international projection with awards such as the Sharp Award and the Tim Award. Throughout his career, the percussionist has accompanied great icons of Brazilian music such as Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben Jor, and Rita Lee, in addition to recording with Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Erasmo Carlos, Luiz Melodia, and Carlinhos Brown.

In addition to his intense stage and studio activity, Ary works as a music educator, teaching workshops and courses in Brazil and abroad, having taught at institutions such as the Antonio Adolfo Musical Center. As a solo artist and collaborator, he has released landmark albums such as "Tocar", "CosmeDamião" in partnership with pianist Fernando Moura, and projects with percussionist Sidinho Moreira, remaining active in the Brazilian instrumental scene and celebrating decades of dedication to percussion.