Widor Santiago

Widor Santiago started his musical studies at the age of 7 with his father, who plays the saxophone, as his tutor. During this early period he was invited to join the Music Band of Anapolis, the city where he was born, and stayed with the band until the age of 14. Then he joined a quartet that played private parties all over Brazil. Widor moved to Brasilia, where he formed a group called Quattuor Jazz and became well known by jazz fans. In 1983 he moved to Rio de Janeiro, where his knowledge of a range of musical styles made him a very popular session musician, recording with such names as Marcio Montarroyos, Rique Pantoja, Marcos Resende, Sivuca, Victor Biglione, Fafa de Belem, Rosana Roberto Carlos, and Nelson Goncalves. His live credentials include performances with popular musicians including Erasmo Carlos, Leo Jaime, Djavan, and Cazuza. Widor initiated numerous new instrumental bands, such as Banda Retoque, Banda Piramide, Don Heres, Alfredo Dias Gomes,and the Nico Assunpcao Quartet. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles and formed a new quartet. He's also played with the group Azimuth, the Brasil Brasil Band (Latin and Brazilian music) and the Vellas Group USA (jazz fusion). Over the past three years, Widor has dedicated himself to instrumental jazz and is generally considered to be one of the best saxophone players around.