Widor Santiago is among of the greatest names of jazz musicians in the world. Since early age he was passionate for music. By the age of seven he was already performing for the Municipal Band of his hometown Anapolis in Brazil, where he performed 14 yeas old. In his early teens he moved to Brasilia (Brazil’s capital) and was tutored by renowned music teachers. In his early teens he formed his first jazz assemble “Quattour Jazz.” In 1983, Widor moved to Rio de Janeiro where his career blossomed because he could be in contact with the most talented names of the Brazilian music.
Transitioning to adulthood he started recording with eminent names of the Brazilian pop music proving his versatility as virtuoso and also being comfortable with different styles of the beautiful Brazilian music. Later on, he dramatically changed his style under the influence of his idols Coltrane and Brecker.
Additionally, he started recording with great Brazilian names such as Marcio Montarroyos, Rique Pantoja, Sivuca, Victor Biglione, Marcos Rezende and many others. Illustrious musicians start recognizing his brightness and invited him to record, and among them: Djavan, Erasmo Carlos, Cazuza, Joao Bosco, Maria Bethania, Simone, and Milton Nascimento. Invitations to record kept coming and he was invited to perform with Erasmo Carlos and Leo Jaime in the worldwide-recognized event “ Rock in Rio” (the largest music festival in the world). Additionally, he performed with Sivuca and Rique Pantoja on the stage of the “Free Jazz Festival 86/87.
In 1989 he moves to Los Angeles and plays with Wayne Shorter in various concerts. “Wayne readily acknowledges Widor as a talented sax player, worthy of the same respect as any accomplished musician in America”.
In 1996 he returns to Brazil and go on tour with many artists (Japan, USA, and Europe) where he accepts the invitation of Flora Purim and percussionist Airto Moreira and joins them for a series of the most important jazz festivals in over 30 countries. In addition to his own quintet, Widor starts recording and touring again, this time with Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento, Dave Weckel, Delmar Brown, Efrain Toro, Giovanni Hidalgo, Larry Coryell, Luiz Avellar, Marcos Rezende, Mike Stern, Nico Assumpcao, Pascoal Meireles, Paulo Braga, Paulo Russo, Paulinho Trompete and other top notch Brazilian artists.
In 2002, Widor was invited by Milton Nascimento, (one of the most renewed musicians in the world) to join his band with whom he is frequently on tour in Brazil, the Americas, Europe, Africa and Japan. In his international tours, Milton Nascimento tailors his performances to the characteristics of each audience, often introducing a more jazz-like repertoire and confidently relying on Widor, as the band’s lead soloist. And everywhere, Widor has been praised by the media for his soloist virtues including Paul McCartney that manifested appreciation for his talent.
Widor’s first album , “A Rosa” , was recorded in London, San Francisco and Rio de Janeiro. It is a collection of fine Brazilian Jazz melodies, revealing all the virtuoso technique of One of Brazil’s greatest.
Widor is currently finishing another two albums with his own compositions. The new releases are the result of years of experience in different settings and cultures and in the company of some of the greatest stars of music.
