BIOGRAPHY
The Guitar Syndicate is an encounter between three guitarists from different backgrounds plus groovy double bass and drums. Their music goes beyond a particular genre in music. In instead it creates a unique kaleidoscope of sounds, melting Jazz, Latin, Brazilian and classical influences all together.
Nelson Latif (Brazil)
7 string guitar / cavaquinho
Cavaquinho and acoustic guitar player Nelson Latif formed his musical identity in the legendary jazz scene of 1980's São Paulo. With roots in choro and jazz, Latif merges Brazilian styles and a classical guitar technique with diverse musical influences. In his melodic phrasing one hears bebop and Brazilian syncopations.
Latif started his studies at age fourteen. During the 90's he moved to Amsterdam and started performing on the cavaquinho, an instrument that has since become his trademark.
Nelson Latif returned to Brazil in 2001, where he formed Trio Baru. Since then, Latif has performed as a soloist as well as in collaboration with various artists. As cultural promoter, Nelson Latif has been coordinating educational projects for universities and cultural institutions around the world.
David Golek (Israel)
electric guitar
Guitarist & composer David Golek is active in the Jazz scene as well as in World-music groups. His personal style and music language suit a wide range of musical directions, while always playing with his an own recognizable sound.
Besides his own projects, David is involved with various groups, being much in demand as a sideman as well. Besides being involved with Jazz & World-music formations, David has worked in collaboration with modern dance projects and more. His own music would be a crossroad of all these experiences, including Jewish and Middle Eastern influences. David Golek's music has been also used for documentary movies and dance.
David has played concerts or recorded with a range of outstanding musicians, such as with Benny Bailey, Ravi Coltrane, Avishai Cohen, Wycliff Gordon, Arnie Lawrence, among many other.
His latest cd with his group Tiltan was voted in category 'Best 5 World-music cd's of the year 2014' and 'Best 20 cd's of the year 2014' in the summary edition of 'Het Parool', one of the Netherlands main newspapers. His last cd 'A Road Less Traveled' was highly acclaimed in national & international press.
Daniel de Moraes (Uruguay)
acoustic guitar
Born in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, guitarist Daniel de Moraes was exposed to a wide range of music from an early age. His father, a well-known guitarist and songwriter in Uruguay, was his first influence inspiring him to become a musician. Before long, he began playing, recording and touring with many important Uruguayan artists such as Ruben Rada (Grammy winner 2011) and Jorge Drexler (Oscar winner 2005).
Daniel´s fascination for jazz music led him to study at the prestigious Conservatory of Amsterdam, where he graduated with a master’s degree in 2013. During his time in Holland, he had the opportunity to record and share the stage with some internationally acclaimed artists like Ivan Lins, Mafalda Arnauth and top Dutch musicians like Bløf, Eric Vloeimans, Paul de Munnik to mention a few.
Beside his work as a sideman, Daniel leads his own trio. His music combines textures of Latin American music with sounds from contemporary jazz. Improvisation is a strong element in the music.
Breno VirÃcimo (Brazil)
double bass
Breno VirÃcimo is a bassist, guitarist and composer. Born in the southern region of Brazil (Santa Catarina), he started learning Brazilian songs on guitar at the age of 12. After two years he joined his father’s band playing the bass guitar. Breno moved to Europe in 2009 to study Jazz Double Bass at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he got his Master’s diploma in 2015. At the moment he is working with Michael Prins, Lilian Vieira, YesSister Jazz Sister, ReSamba and in his own band, Mabassa Ksula.
Olaf Keus (The Netherlands)
drums
Olaf Keus (drums) was born in Amsterdam, He attended the conservatory in Amsterdam and Rotterdam and the Conjuncto Folclorico National de Cuba, and practiced percussion/drums in Africa, New York and Brazil. His love for Brazilian music you can hear with the band of Brancka and with Ceumar from Brazil. Since many years and in projects like Choramundo he has been working with the Brazilian guitar player Nelson Latif. 4Sure is his latin jazz formation. Blending Surinam Paramaribop and jazz with Brazilian and Cuban flavors. Olaf Keus quintet is his latin and jazz dream band with Leslie Lopez, Loet van der lee, Fernando Sanches and Daniel de Moraes. He’s played in Upside Down for six years, the band of the legendary saxophonist and singer Rosa King; they recorded 3 albums and toured the world several times. Rosa King and Upside Down played with Guest artists as like Jan Akkerman, Alex Britty, Luther Allison and Hans Dulfer. He also plays together with internationally renowned artist like the famous Brazilian singer Diana Miranda, the Cuban pianist Ramon Valle, Nippy Noya, Deborah J. Carter and Michelle David and he has been touring with the Mike del Ferro Trio, in Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Costa Rica and Panama.
Olaf is a drum and ensemble teacher at the Amsterdam Music School. He has his own studio, for classes and workshops, and teaches Body percussion and Brazilian music at the Amsterdam Conservatorium.