Trio Simbora is Luiz Morais on 7-string guitar, Rachel Hayter playing the flute and Alua Nascimento on percussion. a

Born in northeast Brazil, 7-string guitar player, arranger and composer Luiz Morais has been playing the guitar from a young age. Immersed in the vibrant Brazilian musical culture, he built his strong musical foundations playing rhythms such as Samba, Choro and Bossa Nova as well as the iconic northeastern rhythm of Forró. After studying music in both Rio de Janeiro and Berkley, Luiz is now based in London. He has released his debut album “Nascente” (“Rising”), with his own compositions that combine the powerful rhythmic roots of Brazilian music with the harmonic sophistication of jazz. 

London-born flute player and composer Rachel Hayter has always had one foot in Brazil. She started playing Choro music as a child with a Brazilian flute teacher, and continued her training in classical music. A keen linguist, Rachel studied Spanish, Portuguese and Music at the University of Birmingham and spent much time studying and playing the music of Brazil and Latin America. She rediscovered her passion for Choro music whilst in living in Brazil in 2013, and has been devoted to Brazilian music ever since. Rachel has an MA from the Guildhall School of Music, and performs with many Latin American ensembles.

Alua Nascimento, for many years a company member of the theatrical smash hit STOMP, is a multi-instrumentalist who studied popular Brazilian percussion in Sao Paulo. He has worked as a percussionist for Sao Paulo’s Folk Ballet, and played with folk singerSam Lee and virtuoso guitarist Antonio Forcione.Since forming in 2014, Trio Simbora have been delighting audiences across the UK with their enchanting take on South American music.