JAZZ@FIRST | TWO PIANOS, ONE SOUL:
A BRAZILIAN JAZZ VOYAGE

Brazilian pianist Thiago Camargo and American pianist Phil DeGreg will perform on two pianos, assisted by Aaron Jacobs on bass and Kiko Sebrian on drums and percussion. They take a guided tour through Brazilian popular music styles, including Bossa Nova, Samba, Choro, Forró and Maracatu.

 

A complimentary wine and cheese intermission is included with your ticket.

 

Jazz@First Series Sponsor: Al Harris

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Musicians

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Thiago Camargo, piano

Phil DeGreg, piano

Aaron Jacobs, bass

Kiko Sebrian, drums

Matt McAllister, auxiliary percussion

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About the Artist: Thiago Camargo, piano, composition and education

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Originally from Valinhos, São Paulo, Brazilian pianist and composer Thiago “Thito” Camargo moved to the United States in 2015 to pursue a Master’s degree in Jazz at the University of Cincinnati’s renowned College-Conservatory of Music. His musical foundation was shaped by formative studies at Conservatório Carlos Gomes, Conservatório de Tatuí and UNICAMP, where he developed his fluency in both classical and Brazilian popular music traditions.

 

Now a vibrant force in Miami’s music scene, Thito is known for his distinctive blend of Brazilian rhythms—such as samba, choro, baião and bossa nova—with jazz harmony and improvisation. His performances are marked by rich musicality, rhythmic sophistication, and a deep sense of groove and lyricism.

 

As a bandleader, Thito leads the Thito Camargo Trio and has performed in respected venues and series such as the Miami Jazz Coop, Martha/Mary Yamaha Concerts and Dranoff 2 Piano Fusion. He is also a key member of Gafieira Rio Miami, a high-energy Brazilian jazz big band that has graced stages across the U.S., including Lincoln Center.

 

In addition, Thito plays a central role in MiamiBloco, a percussion ensemble rooted in Afro-Brazilian traditions. As the group’s percussion section director, he helps lead Bateria Saideira, the ensemble’s flagship performance group, which has appeared at major events like TEDx Miami, GroundUp Music Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival Miami.

 

Thito’s versatility has also brought him to the stage with the genre-defying Nu Deco Ensemble, and he has performed with internationally acclaimed artists such as Christian McBride, Etienne Charles, Melton Mustafa Jr., Wayne Newton, Alfredo Rodriguez, Munir Hossn, Jesse Jones Jr., Nestor Torres and Tony Succar, among others.

 

As a composer and arranger, Thito had his work “Cachoeira” commissioned and recorded by the Campinas Jazz Big Band in Brazil, highlighting his growing voice in contemporary jazz composition.

 

Learn more at thitocamargo.com.

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About the Artist: Phil DeGreg, piano

 

Phil DeGreg began playing the piano in his childhood and now performs as a jazz pianist internationally. His earliest jazz influences were Bud Powell and Bill Evans, but he is accomplished and comfortable in a wide range of jazz styles, ranging from mainstream to bebop to Brazilian jazz. A graduate of Yale and the University of North Texas, he toured with the Woody Herman Orchestra in the 1980s and has 10 CDs to his credit as a leader. For 13 years he accompanied many national and international jazz artists in the house trio in Cincinnati’s famous Blue Wisp Jazz Club. He has been on staff with the renowned Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops since 1983, and has performed and taught in Europe and South America.

 

Phil DeGreg is the retired Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and is the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts study grants. In 2008 he was awarded a 4-month Fulbright Fellowship as a lecturer in Brazil.

 

His text “Jazz Keyboard Harmony” is a practical text for teaching jazz harmony for all musicians, and is used all over the world in universities and for private study.

 

Learn more about Phil DeGreg on his website phildegreg.com.