Josué dos Santos
Josué dos Santos is a Brazilian saxophonist with a strong presence in the instrumental music scene, working across Brazilian popular music and jazz. His musical journey is marked by versatility, multiple influences, and a continuous search for an instrumental language rooted in the foundations of Brazilian music.
This is reflected in a sound concept that dialogues with tradition while simultaneously exploring new interpretive paths and contemporary expressive possibilities.
Throughout his training, he took part in workshops and masterclasses with artists such as Charlie Haden, Joe Lovano, Moacir Santos, George Garzone, Joshua Redman, Dave Holland, and Chris Potter.
As a performer, he maintains an active professional career in a wide range of ensembles and musical contexts, and has collaborated with artists such as César Camargo Mariano, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Paquito D’Rivera, Hamilton de Holanda, Letieres Leite, and Sizão Machado. In 2010 and 2012, he performed with the big band conducted by Maria Schneider in concerts held in São Paulo, Brazil.
He has appeared at major festivals in Brazil and abroad, including Jazz entre Amigos, Jazz a la Calle (Uruguay), San Vicente Jazz and the Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival (Argentina), Cartagena International Music Festival (Colombia), and the Brazilian Festival (Netherlands), as well as touring Denmark, Sweden, and Norway with the Brazilian Scandinavian Big Band. In 2024, he took part in the U.S. tour of Gaia Wilmer and Jaques Morelenbaum. He has also performed as a soloist and guest musician with symphonic ensembles such as the São Paulo Jazz Symphony (Brasil Jazz Sinfônica) and the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra (OSESP), among others.
In 2017, he participated in the recording of the album Natureza Universal by Hermeto Pascoal and Big Band, winner of the 2018 Latin Grammy Award for Best Jazz Album. In 2019, he released the album Aura, a duo project with drummer Carlos Ezequiel, exploring free improvisation and real-time creative processes.
Alongside his artistic career, he is currently a graduate student in the Music Graduate Program at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), where he conducts research in performance studies.
As an educator, he is a faculty member at EMESP Tom Jobim — São Paulo State School of Music, teaching improvisation, ensemble performance, and saxophone. He has also served as a guest teacher at major music festivals in Brazil and abroad. In 2018, he coordinated the exchange program between EMESP and the Jazz Department at The Juilliard School, with activities in São Paulo and New York.
In addition to his own artistic projects, he currently performs with ensembles such as the
Hermeto Pascoal Big Band, São Paulo Big Band, Sizão Machado Quartet, and the César
Camargo Mariano Sextet, maintaining continuous collaboration with musicians and projects
from different strands of contemporary Brazilian music.
Photo Credit : Júlio Acevedo
