Nivaldo Ornelas

Origin

Belo Horizonte, MG

Also known as

Nivaldo Lima Ornelas

Years Active

1964

Genres

jazz, MPB, instrumental, jazz fusion

Instruments

saxophone, flute

Biography

Nivaldo Ornelas is a distinguished Brazilian saxophonist, flutist, composer, and arranger who played a pivotal role in the development of the Minas Gerais music scene. Born in Belo Horizonte, he founded the Clube Berimbau in 1964, a venue that became a critical meeting point for the musicians who would eventually form the influential Clube da Esquina movement. His early career was marked by the formation of the Quarteto Contemporâneo in 1967 before he relocated to Rio de Janeiro in 1970.

In Rio, Ornelas joined the progressive group Som Imaginário, a move that solidified his presence in the Brazilian popular music (MPB) scene. This period saw him collaborating with legendary figures such as Gal Costa and Milton Nascimento. His versatility as a wind instrumentalist also led him to record significantly with the singer Taiguara and perform internationally in the United States alongside jazz-fusion icons Flora Purim and Airto Moreira during the late 1970s.

Ornelas launched a successful solo career upon his return to Brazil, starting with the award-winning album "Portal dos Anjos" in 1978. Throughout the following decades, he became a prolific creator of soundtracks for film and theater, receiving numerous accolades including the Sharp Prize and the Villa-Lobos Trophy. His discography reflects a deep exploration of instrumental jazz and Brazilian rhythms, often collaborating with other masters like Paulo Moura and Toninho Horta.

Discography

• Nivaldo Ornelas (1978)
• MPBC - Nivaldo Ornelas (Música Popular Brasileira Contemporânea) (1978)
• Viagem Através de um Sonho (1981)
• À Tarde (1982)
• Marcos Resende & Nivaldo Ornelas – Som e Fantasia (1984)
• Colheita do Trigo (1990)
• Nivaldo Ornelas, Nelson Ayres (2), Marcio Montarroyos, Toninho Horta – Concerto Planeta Terra (1990)
• Nivaldo Ornelas, Ricardo Leão – As Canções de Milton Nascimento (1995)
• Nivaldo Ornelas / Amilson Godoy – Brasil Musical (1995)
• Nivaldo Ornelas, Juarez Moreira, Orquestra de Câmara do Sesiminas – Aquarelas: A Música de Ary Barroso (1996)
• Nivaldo Ornelas e Paulo Moura (1996)
• Arredores (1998)
• Reciclagem - Ao Vivo (1999)
• Fogo e Ouro (2009)
• Jazz Mineiro Orquestra (2012)
• David Ganc Interpreta a Música de Câmara de Nivaldo Ornelas – Noturno (2016)
• Trilha Sonora Documentário José Aparecido de Oliveira - O Maior Mineiro do Mundo (2025)
• AOS POVOS DA FLORESTA (2026)