BADI ASSAD

Brazil

concert

Badi Assad is a virtuoso singer-songwriter, guitar player, vocal juggler, and author based in São Paulo, Brazil. Her remarkable versatility has earned her a reputation as one of the most dynamic artists of her generation.

With 20 albums released worldwide and having visited more than 40 countries, Badi has become a global phenomenon. Her 2006 album, Wonderland, was recognized as one of the 100 Best by the prestigious BBC London and included among the 30 Best on Amazon.com. The prestigious magazine, Guitar Player, selected her from a pool of artists (including Ben Harper and Ani DiFranco) as one of the guitar players that would revolutionize the world.

Over the past two decades, Badi has captivated audiences worldwide with her performances and collaborations with renowned artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Yo-Yo Ma, and David Broza. She has been signed to record companies, including Verve (Universal) and eDGe Music (Deutsche Grammophon), and has played at some of the most prestigious international festivals and theaters. These include North Sea Jazz (NE), Jarazum Jazz (KOR), L'Opera de Paris (FR), Palais de Beaux-Arts (BE), and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (US). Badi's Music has gained significant acclaim and popularity, with her hit song "Waves" featured in the soundtrack of It Runs in the Family, which starred Michael and Kirk Douglas. Additionally, some of her songs have reached the Top 10 in Europe.

Badi has achieved many milestones throughout her career, including being awarded Best Composer of The Year (APCA/BR) for her first independent album, Between Love and Luck. Her first CD dedicated to children, Cantos de Casa, was awarded the Trophy Cata-Vento for Best CD of the Year (BR). Her song Pega no Coco won first prize for Best World Music Song at the USA International Songwriting Competition. Rolling Stone Magazine selected her among the 70 Best Brazilian Guitar Masters of History. She has also composed the soundtrack for the silent Chinese film The Goddess (1934), screened at New York's Merkin Hall, and received a New York Times highlight as Best of the Festival.

In 2021, Badi launched the "Censorship in Brazilian Music" project and released the EP "Volta ao Mundo com Convidados," featuring collaborations with Lívia Mattos, Marcelo Pretto, Swami Jr, Carlinhos Antunes, and Fernandinho Beatbox. She also introduced her new series, #baditalks, and interviewed Brazilian astrophysicist Angela Olinto, who was elected to the Academy of Sciences and Arts and the National Academy of Sciences of the United States in the same year.

Collaborations and recognition marked Badi Assad's successful 2022 for her musical talent. She released her 20º album "Ilha" followed by a national tour, debuted her BadiArt workshop (sharing her multiple artistic experiences), and collaborated with Arooj Aftab on the song "Diya Hai" from Aftab's album "Vulture Prince," which won the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Performance. Later in the year, she was honored with the 6th Women Music Event Brazil award for Best Instrumentalist of the Year.