a musical journey from Brazil to Canada
Leo Dressel is a singer, guitarist, and composer based in Toronto, Canada. He began his musical career in his mid-teens, honing his skills as a young prodigy guitarist in Brazil's vibrant instrumental music scene, performing with guitarists such as Kiko Loureiro (Angra, Megadeth), Edu Ardanuy (Dr. Sin, Supla) and signing endorsement deals with multiple musical instruments brands. Since then, Leo has written and produced numerous EPs, albums, and singles, collaborating with both independent artists and international labels. His work has earned him award nominations in Brazil, features on national television, and airplay on major radio stations, including the opportunity to write the official song of Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen’s fashion campaign for Colcci in 2015.
Recently, Leo has ventured into film scoring and cinematic music. He made waves at the Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival, where he scored the play My Time Will Come live on stage and narrated this adaptation of the renowned Brazilian novel Grande Sertão: Veredas. Influenced by iconic composers like Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joe Hisaishi, his musical style reflects their artistry, evident in his score for Holding On, a short film by Jake Mash filmed in England and in his own original releases.
With a deep passion for genres such as R&B, Soul, Jazz, and Brazilian music, Leo immigrated to Canada six years ago. The time in Toronto, away from family, friends and Brazilian culture eventually led the artist on a journey to rediscover his roots and fall in love with Brazilian music of the 1950s and 1960s. The influence of bossa nova and the orchestral work of Antonio Carlos Jobim can be heard in his latest compositions, alongside his R&B sensibilities, a combination that earned the name ‘Brazilian Noir’, coined by a close friend. He collaborated with esteemed Toronto musicians Rob Christian (flute), Marito Marques (drums) and Jeremy Ledbetter (piano) on three new singles: “Life”, which was featured on CBC Radio’s Saturday Night Jazz with Laila Biali; “Light”, included in Spotify’s editorial playlist Butter; and “Tudo Aquilo”, his first song in Portuguese.
“Highlight: Leo Dressel’s performance as a guitar-playing narrator.
Compelling, too, is Leo Dressel’s performance as a guitar-playing narrator on the side of the stage. His virtuosic, seemingly improvised fingerpicking provides a living score to the production, evocatively responding to the action as it unfolds.
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“Leo Dressel artfully blends R&B with acoustic Soul with his breezy Brazilian sound!”
