Sofia Rei

Teaches at New York Jazz Academy

Sofia Rei led her multinational band...the passion and clarity with which she assayed a tricky mix of South American rhythms and jazz-inflected harmonies made clear why she has been embraced by New York City audiences from Carnegie Hall to the hippest downtown haunts. Sofia Rei, a truly passionate and restless artist, is one of the most versatile and in-demand singers on the New York music scene. She has recorded, performed and collaborated with renowned musicians and groups such as Maria Schneider, John Zorn, Bobby McFerrin, Folklore Urbano, John Scofield, Lionel Loueke, Pavel Urkiza (Gema y Pavel), Russ Ferrante (Yellow Jackets), Bob Moses, Aquiles Baez, Samuel Torres Group, Pedrito Martinez, and Avantango. She is also the vocalist of Geoffrey Keezer's Aurea, whose self-titled 2009 release received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, her project is grounded in traditional South American rhythms such as chacarera, zamba and vidala from Argentina, Afro-peruvian festejo and lando, Afro-Uruguayan candombe, Colombian cumbia and bullerengue and other genres that merge involving jazz harmonies, electronic sounds and rich improvisations. Singing in Spanish, Portuguese or English, Sofia's voice is so graceful as sophisticated, tying together diverse influences in a program full of rhythmic complexity, melody and romance.