Tuzé de Abreu

Origin

Salvador, BA

Years active

1972

Genres

mpb, tropicalia, orchestral

Instruments

saxophone, flute, vocals

Biography

Tuzé de Abreu, born Alberto José Simões de Abreu in Salvador, Bahia, is a multi-faceted Brazilian musician, singer, composer, musical producer, saxophonist, flutist, and medical doctor. Throughout his career, his compositions have been recorded and performed by legendary figures of Brazilian popular music such as Tom Zé, Gal Costa, and Caetano Veloso. His early artistic contributions include partnering with Tom Zé on the 1972 track "Frevo (Pecadinho)" and composing "Passarinho," which was famously recorded by Gal Costa on her acclaimed 1973 album Índia.

In addition to his work with Gal Costa and Tom Zé, his musical footprint expanded when Caetano Veloso recorded a version of his composition "Vivendo em Paz" for the 1984 album Velô. Over the decades, his artistry has reached audiences through recordings such as his 2001 release Larrálibus Escumálicus Cujolélibus and the 2019 album Contraduzindo. His compositions and performances have also intertwined with prominent artists like Doces Bárbaros, João Donato, Walter Smetak, Moraes Moreira, Luiz Melodia, Cauby Peixoto, and Chico Buarque.

Beyond his contributions as a composer and singer, Tuzé de Abreu has maintained a dedicated presence in classical and instrumental music as a flutist for the Federal University of Bahia Symphony Orchestra (Orquestra Sinfônica da UFBA). His diverse background bridges the worlds of medicine, classical orchestration, and the vanguard of MPB and tropicalia-adjacent movements, cementing his unique place in Brazilian musical history.