Photo by Renata Ferraz 

Singer, percussionist, song-writer and Bahia native Nanny Assis, who has played with such artists as Vinicius Cantauria, Eumeir Deodato and John Patitucci, is a master of Brazilian Jazz, Afro-Brazilian music and other popular and folkloric sounds from his homeland. 

Nanny has performed in venues such as Palais Montcalm Quebec City, B.B.King, Blue Note NYC, Bimhuis Amsterdan, Jazz Standard, Birdland, Joe's Pub, Vortex Jazz Club London, Sunset Paris, Regattabar, Dakota Jazz Club, London’s BBC, Queen Elizabeth Hall London, Blue Note in Milan, Rome Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Fregey Theatre in Belgium, TCA in Brazil, and Chiasso Festival in Switzerland.

Nanny Assis is a hard talent to define. He started his career as a drummer and percussionist, but has developed into a brilliant multiform musician. His evolution as an artist has revealed him to also be an awesome singer and composer. For his multi-faceted talents, Nanny has become known all over the world. During the past 16 years, Nanny Assis has become one of the top percussionists in the Brazilian music industry. He is sought after by world-class musicians for both studio recordings and live performances.

Nanny Assis has an outstanding artistic background and has received critical recognition from top percussionists and the best world music personalities. He has played with such artists as Eumir Deodato, John Patitucci, Vinicius Cantuaria, Ceu, Jay Leonhart, Arto Lindsey, Charito, Arthur Lipner, Romero Lubambo, Freddie Bryant, John Bennitez, Machan Taylor, David Finck, Paul Meyers, Anet Cohn, Morrie Louden, Michael Leonhert, Cyro Baptista, Ed Motta, Adriana Kuadros, Leni Stern, Oriente Lopez, Sasha Lazard, Paulo Braga, Itaiguara, Manhattan Swing Orchestra, Manhattan City Orchestra, Empyreal String Orchestra, Mount Moriah Church Choir, Tico da Costa, Sergio Brandao, John Margolis, Mark Lambert, Nilson Matta, Cidinho Teixeira, Paul Sacolow , Eric Nicholas, Sean Blackman, Ze Luiz, Cliff Korman, Vanessa Falabella, Leo Gandelman, Helio Alves, Melvin Gibbs, Rob Bargard, Rob Curto, Maestro Daniel L. Riley Jr., Jenny Scheinman, Choro Ensemble, Kate McGarry, Norbert Goldberg, Annette Aguilar, Mauro Refosco, Joseph Bonacci and many others.

Nanny Assis was awarded best percussionist by the Bahia Instrumental Festival. He is a self-made man. After training with Catholic School of Arts and Music in Bahia, Brazil, Nanny devoted himself to his music career. He began his career in 1986 when he was invited to perform with Fred Dantas and Zeca Freitas on the Musical Orchestra. They performed throughout Brazil at numerous musical theatres, balls, government cultural events and electoral campaigns. By 1988, after performing and working for only two years, Nanny, began to receive accolades for his musicianship and was awarded numerous prizes.

A timeline of Nanny Assis's most notable achievements follows:

February 1990: Became the head musician in Bahia’s world famous Carnival as a singer and percussionist of Banda Fuzue.

1994: Invited to perform with Rolling Thunder, an American band. Rolling Thunder was touring in Brazil, when Nanny Assis joined them as their percussionist and continued touring with them as a member of the band. Rolling Thunder, with Nanny Assis as their background vocalist and percussionist, continued their tour in Europe.

1999: Invited by the Mount Moriah Baptist Choir of New York City to participate in their world tour. Nanny Assis was the only Brazilian member who toured with then around the world.

2000: Invited by Vinicius Cantuaria to participate in his world tour.

Nanny Assis toured Italy, France, London, England, Ireland, Spain and Belgium. With the Vinicius Cantuaria band, Nanny Assis has performed in venues such as London's BBC, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Blue Note in Milan, Rome Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Fregey Theatre in Belgium, TCA in Brazil, Chiasso Festival in Switzerland, Metro Detroit's 11th Annual Diversity Festival, Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, New York City Symphony Space for Miles Davis tribute, Le Chateaux in Paris, St. Pittsburgh Festival in Russia, and this list will continue to grow.