Debora Gurgel

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Also known as

Debora Picarelli do Amaral Gurgel

Years active

1984

Genres

mpb, jazz, brazilian instrumental music

Instruments

piano, transverse flute

Biography

Débora Gurgel is a renowned pianist, flutist, arranger, and composer from São Paulo, with a career established in the Brazilian instrumental scene for over 45 years. Her work is marked by the fusion of contemporary Brazilian music with strong roots in MPB and the jazz conception of improvisation. Gurgel has released 15 original albums in various formations and has participated in numerous other projects as a guest pianist and arranger.

Throughout her career, Gurgel has studied with important names such as Amilton Godoy, Fernando Mota, and Roberto Sion. In 2012, she honed her skills in a workshop with Chick Corea, John Patitucci, and Antonio Sanchez. She has also collaborated with several icons of Brazilian music, including Raul de Souza, Filó Machado, Zimbo Trio, Arismar do Espírito Santo, and Nico Assumpção.

In recent years, she has frequently performed with the "Dani & Debora Gurgel Quarteto" on international tours across Japan, Europe, the USA, and Latin America, bringing her original music to festivals, theaters, and universities. In addition to her career as an instrumentalist and composer, Débora Gurgel also works as a music educator and is part of the arranging team for important orchestras, such as the Orquestra Jazz Sinfônica and the Orquestra Jovem Tom Jobim, writing arrangements for various renowned artists.