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Rodrigo Simões is a composer with a signature style, seamlessly blending Brazilian music with jazz improvisation. Throughout his international career, he has performed on stages across China, Australia, South Korea, Paraguay, and the United States, in addition to his native Brazil and his adopted home of Canada.

The guitarist has collaborated with world-renowned artists in both Brazil (Elza Soares, Carlos Malta, Paulinho da Viola, Dominguinhos, Zeca Baleiro, and Paulo Moska) and Canada (Bill McBirnie, Joel Miller, Sienna Dahlen, Alex Lefaivre, Sonia Johnson, Mark Nelson, Carl Mayotte, Pierre Verville, Rémi Bolduc, and Jean-Pierre Zanella).

Career Highlights and Discography

• 2013: Released his debut album, Aos Velhos Amigos, in Brazil.

• 2018: Earned a Master’s degree in Jazz Composition from the Université de Montréal under the mentorship of bassist Alain Caron (UZEB).

• 2018: Released his second album, Jazz Brésilien, under the Montreal-based label MCM. This record won a Bronze Medal at the Global Music Awards and was ranked among the top five jazz albums of the year in Quebec by Sorties Jazz Nights.

• 2023: Released his third album, TRE. This concept album, published by the Canadian jazz label Three Pines Records, also received a Bronze Medal at the Global Music Awards in the "Best Latin Album" category.

Driven by the strength of this repertoire, Rodrigo’s ensemble was honored with the "Group of the Year" award at the 10th TU Jazz Festival in Toronto.

Teaching and Involvement 

Alongside his career as a performer, Rodrigo is a dedicated music educator. He teaches at several institutions in Montreal and the surrounding region, including McGill University, the Centre des musiciens du monde, the Coopérative des professeurs de musique, Cégep Édouard-Montpetit, and École André-Laurendeau.