Dirceu Leitte

Origin

Porto Alegre, RS

Also known as

Dirceu Gonçalves Leite

Genres

choro, instrumental, MPB

Instruments

saxophone, clarinet, flute, piccolo, bass clarinet

Biography

Dirceu Leitte, artistic name of Dirceu Gonçalves Leite, was born in Porto Alegre on October 6, 1961. Established as one of the most important wind instrumentalists in Brazil, he has built a versatile career that easily transitions between classical and popular music, mastering the saxophone, clarinet, piccolo, bass clarinet, and various types of flutes. Throughout his career, the musician has collaborated with major names in national culture, such as Tom Jobim, Hans Koellreutter, and guitarist Raphael Rabello.

His artistic career gained strong momentum starting in the 1980s, a period when he began notable performances and founded, in 1982, the ensemble Choro Só. With the group, he toured Europe, was part of the programming of Rádio Nacional, and participated in shows alongside the ballet company of the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro. In addition to his intense stage activity, Dirceu established himself as a sought-after studio and soundtrack musician, recording on acclaimed albums, such as the "MTV Acoustic" projects of artists like Rita Lee, Cássia Eller, Zeca Pagodinho, and Jorge Benjor, as well as works dedicated to masters like Pixinguinha and Jacob do Bandolim.

In theater and television, his presence is also expressively felt, having been part of soundtracks for high-rated soap operas on Rede Globo — such as "O Cravo e a Rosa", "Paraíso Tropical", and "Sinhá Moça" — and participating in successful musicals, in addition to the film "Noel - Poeta da Vila". With a solo discography that includes albums like "Leitte de Coco" and "Cacique instrumental", Dirceu Leitte remains an indispensable reference for the preservation and renewal of wind instruments in Brazilian music.

Discography

• Leite de Coco (1996)