Adriano Santos is at the epicenter of New York and Houston’s contemporary Brazilian drummers. A native of São Paulo Brazil, he moved to Boston in 1988 and earned a degree in Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music. In 1995 he relocated to New York City to study at City College of New York and has never turned back. As a professional he has performed with top international artists such as Gato Barbieri, Hendrik Meurkens, David Binney, Bill Charlap, John Pizzarelli, Slide Hampton, Harry Allen, Steve Wilson, Brian Lynch, Astrud Gilberto, Bebel Gilberto, Vinicius Cantuária, Gal Costa, Leny Andrade, Maucha Adnet, Filó Machado, Romero Lubambo, Paulo Moura, Eumir Deodato, Claudio Roditi, Jovino Santos Neto and Antônio Adolfo to name a few. Adriano’s playing style is typified by a natural clarity, swing and deep-seated groove in the tradition of Airto Moreira and Milton Banana. In addition to his extensive experience as a performer he has also shared his knowledge about Brazilian music teaching at Columbia University, New York University and for the past twenty years at the renowned Drummers Collective School of Music in NYC.

His 2010 debut album “IN SESSION”, his first as a band leader, has received outstanding reviews by the press and a nomination in three different categories for the Latin Jazz Corner Best of 2010 Awards; Best Brazilian Jazz Album, Next Generation Artist and Best Drum Kit Player. Adriano is an artist endorsed by Vic Firth sticks, Canopus drums, Remo drum heads and Istanbul Agop cymbals.