Brazil

Elias Coutinho had his first contact with music, at the age of 6, through his church’s band director, and his first contact with the saxophone at the age of 9. He attended to the Carlos Gomes Conservatory, in Belém, Pará, Brazil, for 4 years with the saxophonist Harley Bichara where, later, he will become a teacher of said conservatory. While studying his Saxophone Bachelor at the State University of Pará, where he finished his studies, he had as a master the saxophonist Dilson Florêncio. This was the beginning of his academic career, taking classes with big names of the Brazilian popular music, such as Ademir Júnior, Paulo Levi and Alex Terrier, a Parisian saxophonist that lives in the United States.

His presence in the northern music scene strengthens the local instrumental music production, being considerate by many as one of the most important names of the Brazilian saxophone nowadays. He has participated in many festivals like Pará International Music Festival (for 6 editions) where he performed with Amazônia Jazz Band, Saxçaí Quarteto de Saxofones Group, Symphonic Band of the Carlos Gomes Foundation, Adalbert Carneio Quartet, Manarí Trio and as the main alto sax with the Metrópole Jazz Ensemble. He also performed with the instrumental group from Amapá, Amazon Music, at the Music and Gastronomy Festival; in Tiradentes, Minas Gerais, with Manarí Trio and with quartets from two musicians: Adelbert Carneiro’s and Gileno Foinquinos’s, at the FEMINSAP-AM. In 2014, at the FEMINSAP-AM, Elias was one of the biggest attractions alongside the group Amazon Music. In 2015, in the following edition, was called by the composer and multi-instrumentalist Dilean Monper. In 2013, Elias performed with the renowned Brazilian bass player André Neiva, in André’s show at the 5th edition of the Amazonas Double Bass Festival. He participated with the JK Orchestra, of the great Brazilian saxophonist Ademir Júnior, in his show for the closing of the 1st International Saxophonists Meeting, in Brasilia, whose guest artist was the great saxophonist Spok.

In 2015, he competed in the 1st International Victor Assis Brazil Contest, where he classified in 2nd place.

Elias is one of the musicians who lead the instrumental music scene, produced in the northern region of Brazil, with constant performances in the cultural spaces of the capital, either with his instrumental quartet or other projects. He also performs as a guest artist for musicians from Pará and also national ones, such as the singer Lias Soares, with whom he recorded the DVD “O som é o sol”, at the Teatro da Paz.

In the academic area, he participates in meetings, festivals, shows and gives workshops in Brazil and abroad as a guest artist, among them: the workshop at the São Paulo State School of Music (EMESP); the Workshop in Nova Iguaçú, in Rio de Janeiro; the CLARISAX Festival (2016) in Colombia; Barkley Festival in Peru; and SAXFEST (2017), in São Paulo, where he played and participated in the show of the Brazilian saxophonist Deríco. In addition to his website with lessons, involving students from Brazil and abroad, Elias works actively on social media with classes on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.