Nelsinho Freitas

Biography

Nelsinho Freitas is a versatile Brazilian pianist, keyboardist, and accordionist, renowned for his creativity and improvisational flair. A self-taught musician who began playing piano at 11, he later studied at the Villa-Lobos School of Music, where he was influenced by masters such as Radamés Gnattali, Ernesto Nazareth, and Tom Jobim. His passion for harmony, counterpoint, and composition was further refined under maestros Leandro Braga, Cristóvão Bastos, and Tim Rescala. Throughout his career, Freitas has worked across a wide spectrum of music and performance, from musicals and soundtracks to collaborations with some of Brazil's most celebrated artists. He has recorded and performed with legends including Seu Jorge, Maria Rita, Marcelo D2, Elza Soares, Zeca Pagodinho, and Martinho da Vila, as well as Diogo Nogueira, Casuarina, João Cavalcanti, Criolo, Fernanda Abreu, Alcione, and Vanessa da Mata. He currently performs with Paulinho Moska. With Casuarina, he received the 2017 Prêmio da Música Brasileira for the album 7. In addition to his work as a live and studio musician, Freitas has composed for film and theater, including the award-winning short A Parede (screened at the 2010 Berlin Short Film Festival). In 2025, he gained wider recognition as a featured musician on TV Globo's Estrela da Casa. Today, he continues to perform, direct shows, and produce music at his own studio, while exploring the richness of Brazilian music in dialogue with jazz, cinema, and other art forms.