ABOUT

Iúri Oliveira

MUSICIAN | MULTI PERCUSSIONIST | COMPOSER | TOUR | STUDIO | EDUCATOR

©Manuel Abelho

Percussionist, multi-percussionist, composer, researcher, sound designer and music producer Iúri Oliveira, graduated from The Rhythm Studio (London School of Popular Music) and Drumdrumdrum in Netherlands, is currently an active performer on a wide range of instruments, rhythmic traditions and percussion styles. Iúri Oliveira is currently one of the most creative, expressive and expert names of the Portuguese music, involving himself in a wide plurality of sounds, from Fado to World Music, from Latin Jazz to Fusion, from Pop to South American sounds, and from electronic music to free improvisation.

With the mind and spirit of a sound designer, the musician stands out for his innovative approach based on his own sounds which are rich in comprehensive techniques, leading him to work with musicians and composers from different musical genres, from many parts of the world, and also with directors on soundtracks for films.

The list of artists with whom he has recorded and played live is huge, including a range of big-name Portuguese, Lusophone and international performers, musicians and projects, such as Sara Tavares, Lura, Django Bates, Julian Arguelles, Munir Hossn, Ana Moura, Aline Frazão, Selma Uamusse, Firmino Pascoal, Dino D'Santiago, Ana Laíns, Branko, EU. CLIDES, Cesária Évora Orchestra, Orquestra de Jazz de Espinho, Markandeya, Angélique Kidjo, João Barradas, Cuca Roseta, Rita Vian, Julinho KSD, Criatura, Paulo de Carvalho, Madonna, among many others. With an extensive live experience, he has performed on the main and most emblematic stages in Portugal, but also around the world, having played at iconic venues such as the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where he performed with Madonna at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.

Currently, he is working with The Cinematic Orchestra, Criatura, Manuel Ferreira, Eduardo Cardinho, Lura, Nancy Vieira, Helder Moutinho, Pongo, Branko, Sergio Pelagio, Paus and Caos, whilst taking part on different percussion productions and arrangements for artists and projects from all over the world. This work is carried out from his personal studio, where he adds his own inspiration to the language he has absorbed from his mentors, in particular, Giovanni Hidalgo, Marcelo Wolosky, Roël Callister, Marcus Santana and Jarrod Cagwin, creating unique atmospheres and intentions for each musical concept that is proposed to him.

Apart from taking part in collective projects, Iúri Oliveira also undertakes an authorship dimension as a composer in his own name, having released the songs “Casa”, with the participation of Edu Mundo, “Habitat”, together with Manuel Rocha, or composing the soundtrack "Auroras" for the film “João Ayres - O Pintor Independente”, with which he has won the Best Original Score award at the Paris Film Awards, at the European Art Festival in Romania and at Red Moon Filme Festival in USA.

He is currently working on "Manifesto”, a solo album where he undertakes a deep and authentic immersion in wood, leather and steel instruments, without resorting to loops or other electronic devices.

Eclectic, authentic and dedicated, Iúri Oliveira puts all his passion and focus at the service of music, tracing a vibrant path full of colours and textures.

“My greatest legacy will be to inspire someone to embrace music as someone did for me in the past.” Iúri Oliveira, 2024

©João Mineiro