Ciro Magnani Quartet plays at the Jazz Station in Eugene
Get ready for a night of Brazilian beats and jazz classics, Ciro Magnani’s quartet will have you tapping your feet and swaying to the rhythm!
- Ciro Magnani piano
- Ben Harris alto saxophone/flute
- Niels Miller bass
- Jay Veach drums
Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ciro Magnani has recently started his Masters in Jazz Studies at the University of Oregon under the guidance of Keith Brown. A carioca soul with many influences, Brazilian pianist Ciro Magnani's sound is very reminiscent of his heroes: Cesar Camargo Mariano, Amaro Freitas, Rafael Vernet, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and Oscar Peterson. He began studying piano at the age of six, with a musical education at the Brazilian Conservatory of Music that led him to experiment with multiple Brazilian sounds and at the same time delve into the study of classical piano. As a result of being born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, the birthplace of Bossa Nova, Ciro was greatly influenced by the music of Tom Jobim. At age sixteen, he was invited to perform bossa nova standards in a public concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the genre. Since then he has been playing in various groups in Rio de Janeiro's nightlife and has collaborated with musicians such as Jean Charnaux, Pablo Arruda, Roberto Stepheson and Jorge Oscar. He has won several classical piano competitions in Brazil and has performed at festivals in Brazil and the United Kingdom. Recently graduated with a master’s degree in Piano Performance at the UO under the guidance of Professor Alexandre Dossin. Originally from San Jose, CA, Ben Harris concurrently serves as a Graduate Educator and Graduate student at the University of Oregon, where he previously earned his undergraduate degree in jazz studies. Ben has studied saxophone with Idit Shner and Steve Owen, as well as flute with Dr. Jacqueline Cordova-Arrington. In addition to performing in the Oregon Jazz Ensemble and JazzArts Oregon, UO’s top large ensemble and combo respectively, Ben is also a regular performer in the Eugene/Springfield area, both a bandleader and a sideman. Additionally, Ben teaches private lessons and composes original music performed by various groups. Bassist Niels Miller has lived in Eugene nearly a decade having lived and performed extensively in Seattle, Virginia and throughout the Northeast. He discovered the double bass relatively late growing up in an era when playing the big bass was as cool as your dad’s clothes. Raised in the funky 70s, he plays jazz, classical, salsa, samba and anything with a groove. Jay Veach is a drummer/educator born in South Korea. He has played in bands such as the Oregon Jazz Ensemble, Impulse New Ensemble, the Jazz Kings, and resides locally in Eugene. He is the bandleader for the Generations Wedding and Events band, and currently teaches students in various middle schools, high schools, and colleges.
