167:"properly educated classical singer during the day and everything else at night." At 19, she was exposed to jazz for the first time and began to learn about vocal improvisation, frequently working with young composers and exploring ways to use her voice as she premiered their new works. Fully immersed in improvised music and jazz, Rei decided to come to the United States to continue her education. In 2001, she moved to Boston to study jazz and improvisation at the
17:
265:
audience clap-alongs. And always those rhythms — from
Argentine zamba (not Brazilian samba, she was quick to point out) to Peruvian lando to Argentine chacarera, on which she accompanied herself with the tiny 10-string charango. She explained the Spanish lyrics of loss, hardship, and celebration, but the music didn't need much in the way of translation. The meaning was in her voice and in the sound of this band."
379:
was involved with
Berklee College of Music's Global Initiatives, contributing to various programs such as its itinerant project Berklee Latino. She has also taught at the New England Conservatory and the New School College of Performing Arts, offering workshops internationally on vocal improvisation and styles training.
295:, (Washington DC), SF Jazz (San Francisco), the International Jazz en Lima Festival (Peru), Teatro Colsubsidio (Bogotá, Colombia), Wien Konzerthaus (Vienna, Austria), Cité de la Musique (Paris, France), North Sea Jazz (Netherlands), Tom de Festa (Portugal), the Buenos Aires International Jazz Festival (Argentina).
203:
In 2003, while living in Boston, Rei, Roeder, and drummer "Coqui" Perez-Albela formed
Avantrio to explore the music of Peruvian composers such as Chabuca Granda, Felipe Pinglo and Nicomedes Santa Cruz. The concept was later expanded to include South American folk music, especially from Argentina and
397:. She was talking on her phone with her sister when Conan, who was looking for an address while doing a comedy bit of delivering Chinese food, saw her while she was reclining on the open window of her apartment and greeted her. She greeted back, gave him directions and taught him to drink Argentine
378:
Rei is currently a
Professor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute, where she teaches in the areas of Performance and Musicianship, while also serving as the Director of Global Studies. Previously, she was a member of the Voice and Songwriting departments at Berklee College of Music from 2011 to 2014, and
369:
project. She has recorded, performed or collaborated with artists including Frank London, the
Klezmatics, Guillermo Klein, Ezequiel Viñao, the Panamerican Symphony Orchestra, Clarice Assad, Curupira, Las Añez, Celso Duarte, Lionel Loueke, John Scofield, Danilo Perez, Susana Baca, Eva Ayllon, Pavel
264:
wrote: "Koutsovitis's savvy arrangements of originals and covers kept juggling instrumentation and modulated dynamics — soft, rubato introductions segueing into rollicking 6/8 dance themes. There were spellbinding duets with Roeder and
Genovese, call-and-response vocals with the band, and two-beat
251:
wrote: "Koutsovitis employs a sort of South
American bohemian aura, using hip cultural landmarks, feelings of love and regret, and an expanded color palette to weave some magical spells over anyone who comes close to her muse...As an individual, she's hard to compare to any predecessor, except her
158:
Rei was born in Buenos Aires to Andres
Koutsovitis, a civil engineer, and Maria Cristina Reigadas, a philosopher, professor and researcher. She began to study music at 4, and as a child she sang with vocal groups and school choirs. She began her professional career at nine as a member of the Colón
283:
was released in 2012. Co-produced by Rei, Roeder and Fab Dupont, it was recorded with electric guitars, loops and drum machines as well as Andean charangos, Paraguayan harps, Colombian marimbas from the
Pacific Coast, Argentine bombos, and Peruvian cajones. Named Best World Beat Album at the 2013
166:
As an undergraduate, Rei studied opera with
Professor Marta Blanco. In 1997, she joined the National Youth Choir of Argentina (CONAJO) under the direction of Maestro Nestor Zadoff, as a contralto. Her musical interests extended beyond the classical world, however, and she led "a double life" as a
162:
Rei stopped performing professionally as she started high school at Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires. She discovered punk rock, and started to play the drums, but sang mainly "in the shower." She returned to her formal music education in college as a voice major at the National Conservatory.
195:. Encouraged by one of her teachers, George Russell, Rei began to write her own music. While at the conservatory, she met bassist Jorge Roeder, with whom she frequently collaborates. She graduated from the New England Conservatory with a Master's in Jazz and Improvisation in 2003.
141:
She is the co-founder of El Colectivo Sur, an arts collective based in New York City that aims to increase public awareness of South American music and assemble diverse communities. She curates its flagship program, the New York City South American Music Festival. She teaches at
112:, is an Argentine vocalist, songwriter, producer, and educator. A classically trained mezzo-soprano, Rei's influences include South American folk styles, jazz, pop, new classical and electronic music. Singing in Spanish, English and Portuguese, her voice was described by
118:
as "possessing a voluptuously full voice, comprehensive command of Latin American rhythms, and encyclopedic knowledge of folkloric forms from Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and Uruguay." She was born and raised in Buenos Aires and has been based in New York since 2005.
204:
Brazil. Rei created the Sofia Koutsovitis Group, an octet which also included Roeder and Coqui Pérez Albela, along with Leo Genovese on piano, Jason Palmer on trumpet, Adam Schneit on alto sax, Dan Blake on soprano and tenor sax, and Richie Barshay on drums.
221:
described it as "eclectic and exciting," and wrote that it "exemplifies the recent trends in Latin Jazz and Latin American music in general, and proves why Sofia Koutsovitis is one of the most versatile and in-demand singers in the New York music scene."
215:, recorded with an octet, was released that same year. Composed of arrangements of her own compositions and songs by Argentine, Brazilian and Cuban composers, the album was named one of the year's Top 10 records by The Jazz Journalist's Association.
307:, a New-York based international a cappella quartet with Ayelet Rose Gottlieb (Israel), Malika Zarra (Morocco) and Basya Schechter (United States). Mycale was commissioned by composer John Zorn to arrange, perform and record compositions from his
272:, a song cycle inspired by the unsolved murders & disappearances of women and young girls in the city of Juárez, Mexico. Commissioned by the Carnegie Hall Corporation, the premiere of the piece took place at
252:
joy and passion could rival Flora Purim, Celia Cruz, or Abbey Lincoln." The album won the Best World Beat Album at the 2009 Independent Music Awards, and Rei was named Best Latin Jazz Vocalist of 2009 by
284:
Independent Music Awards, Rei described it as a "series of ‘philosophical wanderings’ — songs that draw on a wide range of South American folkloric influences and bracingly modern sounds."
334:. The project was put together by Zorn on his 60th birthday as a 30 year retrospective. The band features an "all star band of Zorn regulars" including
659:
1053:
797:
878:
1265:
1275:
122:
Five of her albums won Independent Music Awards for Best Album, in the World Beat category and Concept Album. She has worked with
822:
1270:
370:
Urkiza, Russ Ferrante, Bob Moses, Steve Lacy, Aquiles Baez, C4 Trio, Aca Seca, Pedrito Martinez and La Bomba de Tiempo.
276:. Rei was chosen as a featured vocalist to premier the work as part of The Jazz Gallery's "New Voices" concert series.
168:
1117:
739:
1103:
766:
159:
Teatro Children's Choir, and later joined Argentina's National Children's Choir at Teatro Nacional Cervantes.
1143:
1079:
1240:
1280:
957:
287:
Rei has toured Europe, North and South America performing at international festivals and venues including
904:
208:
135:
146:'s Global Initiatives, including its itinerant program Berklee Latino directed by Oscar Stagnaro and
184:
143:
304:
1207:
1260:
403:. The video can be found on the official YouTube channel of Conan O'Brien, called Team Coco.
1009:
188:
8:
319:, was released in 2015 on Tzadik with Sara Serpa (Portugal) as a new member of the band.
1245:
688:
982:
930:
389:
851:
394:
114:
1170:
172:
147:
539:
452:
343:
292:
260:
217:
192:
180:
127:
76:
72:
1194:
1254:
493:
355:
288:
230:
545:
399:
362:
339:
331:
207:
Rei moved to New York in 2005, and in 2006 toured internationally with the
176:
713:
233:. She also collaborated with Geoff Keezer on his Grammy-nominated album,
347:
327:
273:
351:
335:
131:
16:
298:
123:
517:
248:
315:
was released on Tzadik Records in early 2010. The second album,
1054:"The Singers of Mycale Blend Voices in Zorn's 'Book of Angels'"
1034:
268:
Later in 2009, Rei contributed her vocals to Lova Zhurbin's
1235:
1104:
Preview: A Cappella Group Mycale in the ReVoice! Festival
55:
Latin, experimental, alternative, world, jazz, electronic
91:
243:
She wrote eight of the twelve tracks which appeared on
421:
Independent Music Award, World Beat, Best Album (2013)
418:
Independent Music Award, World Beat, Best Album (2009)
436:
424:
Independent Music Award, World Beat, Best Song (2013)
1171:"Q&A With Professor, Composer, Singer Sofia Rei"
412:
Jazz Journalists Association Top Ten Records of 2006
1001:
870:
415:
Latin Jazz Corner, Best Latin Jazz Vocalist of 2009
427:Independent Music Award, Best Concept Album (2018)
299:Mycale, The Song Project, and other collaborations
1195:Conan Delivers Chinese Food in NYC - CONAN on TBS
1252:
767:"The Sounds Are Global, the Audiences Suburban"
1197:, Team Coco Youtube Channel, November 2, 2011.
922:
823:"Latin Jazz Conversations: Sofia Rei (Part 1)"
653:
651:
649:
975:
682:
680:
791:
789:
787:
1077:
896:
758:
646:
153:
677:
1109:
846:
844:
815:
784:
225:In 2008, she sang with Bobby McFerrin in
1051:
1045:
955:
949:
902:
795:
476:‘’Coplas Escondidas" (Cascabelera, 2023)
239:In 2009, Rei released her second album,
229:, a piece commissioned by John Zorn, at
63:Vocalist, songwriter, producer, educator
15:
1200:
1168:
1106:, London Jazz News, September 26, 2012.
1078:Whittington, Stephen (March 16, 2014).
740:"4th NYC South American Music Festival"
706:
657:
387:Rei appeared unscripted on the program
258:In a review of a live performance, the
247:and co-produced the album with Roeder.
1253:
1115:
1007:
983:"Niña Dance, ("Intro: Lento, Rubato")"
841:
686:
660:"Reshaping the sounds of her homeland"
876:
1080:"Adelaide Festival: John Zorn in Oz"
764:
382:
20:Sofía Rei live in Brooklyn, New York
1052:Ratliffe, Ben (September 9, 2015).
1008:Romero, Angel (December 13, 2012).
956:Garelick, John (November 8, 2009).
765:Lutz, Phillip (September 5, 2008).
585:The Music of Joseph C. Phillips Jr.
13:
1169:Vasquez, Marvin (March 16, 2013).
1141:
928:
903:Montague, Joe (January 29, 2011).
796:Cherascu, Andrei (March 6, 2015).
658:Gilbert, Andrew (March 14, 2010).
437:As Sofia Rei/Sofia Rei Koutsovitis
14:
1292:
1229:
1144:"Berklee Launches Berklee Latino"
827:Latin Jazz Corner (via Feed Fury)
689:"Watch: Sofía Rei – "La Gallera""
211:Jazz Orchestra. Her debut album,
169:New England Conservatory of Music
1266:Berklee College of Music faculty
798:"Authenticity through Awareness"
687:Bhatia, Rafiq (April 25, 2011).
361:Additionally, Rei performs with
322:Rei is also part of John Zorn’s
1276:New England Conservatory alumni
1188:
1162:
1135:
1097:
1071:
1027:
931:"Sube Azul - Sofia Koutsovitis"
534:Forro in the Dark/Forro Zinho,
309:Book of Angels: Masada Book II.
171:. There, her teachers included
877:Calle, Simon (June 19, 2007).
732:
578:Gomory: Book of Angels Vol. 25
431:
1:
1116:Orozco, Olga (July 1, 2013).
640:
634:The Book Beri'ah : Keter
536:Forro in the Dark Plays Zorn
303:Rei is a founding member of
7:
1271:Musicians from Buenos Aires
590:Diego Obregón & Grupo,
480:
373:
10:
1297:
108:, known professionally as
879:"Sofia Kousovitis: Ojala"
406:
313:Mycale: Book of Angels 13
198:
106:Sofia Eugenia Koutsovitis
86:
82:
67:
59:
51:
43:
39:Sofia Eugenia Koutsovitis
33:
26:
1122:Conestabo Caeneste Mundo
606:Live at Le Poisson Rouge
587:(Vipassana Innova, 2009)
154:Early life and education
144:Berklee College of Music
1118:"Sofía Rei (Argentina)"
858:. New York Jazz Academy
599:The Year of Two Summers
592:Chonta Pequeña Historia
47:Buenos Aires, Argentina
802:The Music and the Myth
571:Book of Angels Vol. 13
524:(Nova et Vetera, 2015)
21:
1246:Sofia Rei at AllMusic
613:Vinyl Singles Edition
559:(Fuller Street, 2007)
19:
514:(Jazz Village, 2012)
467:(Cascabelera, 2017)
1281:Argentine musicians
1208:"Sofia Rei credits"
929:Nastos, Michael G.
522:La Gaita Fantástica
473:(Cascabelera, 2021)
461:(Cascabelera, 2012)
311:Their first album,
279:Rei's third album,
1014:Word Music Central
905:"Argentina's Diva"
771:The New York Times
746:. January 18, 2016
714:"SOFIA REI IN NYC"
622:(Blue Conga, 2010)
611:The Song Project,
604:The Song Project,
601:(Lima Limon, 2008)
552:(Dangerbird, 2015)
367:Language of Dreams
254:Latin Jazz Corner.
22:
1241:Tiny Desk Concert
1236:Official website
1150:. Berklee College
1010:"De Tierra y Oro"
856:nyjazzacademy.com
550:No Wrong No Right
527:Folklore Urbano,
500:(Adventure, 2014)
393:in a remote with
383:Media Appearances
100:
99:
1288:
1224:
1223:
1221:
1219:
1204:
1198:
1192:
1186:
1185:
1183:
1181:
1166:
1160:
1159:
1157:
1155:
1142:Maricq, Sophie.
1139:
1133:
1132:
1130:
1128:
1113:
1107:
1101:
1095:
1094:
1092:
1090:
1084:The Conversation
1075:
1069:
1068:
1066:
1064:
1049:
1043:
1042:
1031:
1025:
1024:
1022:
1020:
1005:
999:
998:
996:
994:
987:carnegiehall.org
979:
973:
972:
970:
968:
953:
947:
946:
944:
942:
926:
920:
919:
917:
915:
900:
894:
893:
891:
889:
874:
868:
867:
865:
863:
848:
839:
838:
836:
834:
819:
813:
812:
810:
808:
793:
782:
781:
779:
777:
762:
756:
755:
753:
751:
736:
730:
729:
727:
725:
710:
704:
703:
701:
699:
684:
675:
674:
672:
670:
655:
625:Ezequiel Viñao,
562:Nando Michelin,
451:(Global Village/
281:De Tierra y Oro,
115:The Boston Globe
96:
93:
36:
24:
23:
1296:
1295:
1291:
1290:
1289:
1287:
1286:
1285:
1251:
1250:
1232:
1227:
1217:
1215:
1206:
1205:
1201:
1193:
1189:
1179:
1177:
1167:
1163:
1153:
1151:
1140:
1136:
1126:
1124:
1114:
1110:
1102:
1098:
1088:
1086:
1076:
1072:
1062:
1060:
1050:
1046:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1018:
1016:
1006:
1002:
992:
990:
989:. Carnegie Hall
981:
980:
976:
966:
964:
954:
950:
940:
938:
927:
923:
913:
911:
901:
897:
887:
885:
875:
871:
861:
859:
850:
849:
842:
832:
830:
821:
820:
816:
806:
804:
794:
785:
775:
773:
763:
759:
749:
747:
738:
737:
733:
723:
721:
720:. July 15, 2016
712:
711:
707:
697:
695:
685:
678:
668:
666:
656:
647:
643:
627:Sonetos de Amor
618:Samuel Torres,
510:Raynald Colom,
483:
459:De Tierra y Oro
439:
434:
409:
385:
376:
301:
209:Maria Schneider
201:
173:Charlie Banacos
156:
136:Maria Schneider
103:
90:
75:, Cascabelera,
71:World Village,
34:
29:
12:
11:
5:
1294:
1284:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1249:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1231:
1230:External links
1228:
1226:
1225:
1199:
1187:
1161:
1134:
1108:
1096:
1070:
1058:New York Times
1044:
1039:sofiamusic.com
1026:
1000:
974:
962:Boston Phoenix
948:
921:
895:
883:All About Jazz
869:
840:
829:. June 5, 2015
814:
783:
757:
731:
705:
676:
644:
642:
639:
638:
637:
636:(Tzadik, 2018)
630:
623:
616:
615:(Tzadik, 2014)
609:
608:(Tzadik, 2015)
602:
597:Edward Perez,
595:
588:
581:
580:(Tzadik, 2015)
574:
573:(Tzadik, 2010)
567:
560:
553:
543:
532:
531:(Chonta, 2009)
525:
515:
508:
507:(Bituin, 2014)
501:
491:
482:
479:
478:
477:
474:
468:
462:
456:
453:Harmonia Mundi
446:
438:
435:
433:
430:
429:
428:
425:
422:
419:
416:
413:
408:
405:
384:
381:
375:
372:
344:Kenny Wollesen
300:
297:
293:Kennedy Center
261:Boston Phoenix
218:All About Jazz
200:
197:
193:Jerry Bergonzi
181:Dominique Eade
155:
152:
128:Bobby McFerrin
102:Musical artist
101:
98:
97:
88:
84:
83:
80:
79:
73:Harmonia Mundi
69:
65:
64:
61:
57:
56:
53:
49:
48:
45:
41:
40:
37:
31:
30:
27:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1293:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1261:Living people
1259:
1258:
1256:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1233:
1213:
1209:
1203:
1196:
1191:
1176:
1175:Campus Circle
1172:
1165:
1149:
1145:
1138:
1123:
1119:
1112:
1105:
1100:
1085:
1081:
1074:
1059:
1055:
1048:
1040:
1036:
1030:
1015:
1011:
1004:
988:
984:
978:
963:
959:
958:"Mixed Media"
952:
936:
932:
925:
910:
906:
899:
884:
880:
873:
857:
853:
847:
845:
828:
824:
818:
803:
799:
792:
790:
788:
772:
768:
761:
745:
744:Village Voice
741:
735:
719:
715:
709:
694:
690:
683:
681:
665:
661:
654:
652:
650:
645:
635:
631:
628:
624:
621:
617:
614:
610:
607:
603:
600:
596:
593:
589:
586:
582:
579:
575:
572:
568:
565:
561:
558:
555:Andy McWain,
554:
551:
547:
544:
541:
537:
533:
530:
526:
523:
519:
516:
513:
509:
506:
502:
499:
495:
494:Clarice Assad
492:
490:(Limon, 2007)
489:
488:Alcatraz Lima
485:
484:
475:
472:
469:
466:
463:
460:
457:
454:
450:
447:
445:(Ojala, 2006)
444:
441:
440:
426:
423:
420:
417:
414:
411:
410:
404:
402:
401:
396:
395:Conan O'Brien
392:
391:
380:
371:
368:
364:
359:
357:
356:Cyro Baptista
353:
349:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
320:
318:
314:
310:
306:
296:
294:
290:
289:Carnegie Hall
285:
282:
277:
275:
271:
266:
263:
262:
256:
255:
250:
246:
242:
237:
236:
232:
231:Carnegie Hall
228:
227:Instant Opera
223:
220:
219:
214:
210:
205:
196:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
164:
160:
151:
149:
145:
139:
137:
133:
129:
125:
120:
117:
116:
111:
107:
95:
89:
85:
81:
78:
74:
70:
66:
62:
60:Occupation(s)
58:
54:
50:
46:
42:
38:
32:
25:
18:
1216:. Retrieved
1212:allmusic.com
1211:
1202:
1190:
1178:. Retrieved
1174:
1164:
1152:. Retrieved
1147:
1137:
1125:. Retrieved
1121:
1111:
1099:
1087:. Retrieved
1083:
1073:
1061:. Retrieved
1057:
1047:
1041:. Sofia Rei.
1038:
1029:
1017:. Retrieved
1013:
1003:
991:. Retrieved
986:
977:
965:. Retrieved
961:
951:
939:. Retrieved
935:allmusic.com
934:
924:
912:. Retrieved
908:
898:
886:. Retrieved
882:
872:
860:. Retrieved
855:
831:. Retrieved
826:
817:
805:. Retrieved
801:
774:. Retrieved
770:
760:
748:. Retrieved
743:
734:
722:. Retrieved
717:
708:
696:. Retrieved
692:
667:. Retrieved
664:Boston Globe
663:
633:
629:(Tlon, 2015)
626:
619:
612:
605:
598:
591:
584:
577:
570:
564:Como Arboles
563:
556:
549:
546:Jesse Harris
535:
528:
521:
511:
505:Punto y Raya
504:
497:
487:
470:
464:
458:
448:
442:
398:
388:
386:
377:
366:
363:Myra Melford
360:
340:John Medeski
332:Jesse Harris
324:Song Project
323:
321:
316:
312:
308:
302:
286:
280:
278:
269:
267:
259:
257:
253:
244:
240:
238:
234:
226:
224:
216:
212:
206:
202:
177:Danilo Perez
165:
161:
157:
148:Javier Limón
140:
121:
113:
109:
105:
104:
1214:. All Music
1148:Berklee.edu
1035:"Sofia Rei"
909:Jazz Review
852:"Sofia Rei"
693:Jazz Speaks
632:John Zorn,
557:Resemblance
498:Imaginarium
432:Discography
348:Trevor Dunn
328:Mike Patton
274:Zankel Hall
1255:Categories
1218:5 February
1180:9 February
1154:9 February
1127:9 February
1089:25 October
1063:25 October
1019:25 October
993:5 February
967:25 October
941:25 October
937:. AllMusic
914:9 February
888:25 October
862:5 February
833:24 October
776:October 6,
750:9 February
724:9 February
698:25 October
641:References
583:Numinous,
486:Alcatraz,
465:El Gavilán
352:Joey Baron
336:Marc Ribot
270:Niña Dance
245:Sube Azul,
241:Sube Azul.
185:Steve Lacy
132:Marc Ribot
92:sofiamusic
35:Birth name
807:6 October
669:5 October
449:Sube Azul
189:Bob Moses
124:John Zorn
110:Sofia Rei
28:Sofia Rei
718:K Prensa
576:Mycale,
569:Mycale,
518:Curupira
503:Bituin,
481:As guest
374:Teaching
249:Allmusic
620:Yaounde
542:, 2015)
529:Corazón
455:, 2009)
87:Website
594:(2012)
566:(2011)
540:Tzadik
471:Umbral
407:Awards
317:Gomory
305:Mycale
291:, the
235:Aurea.
199:Career
134:, and
77:Tzadik
68:Labels
52:Genres
443:Ojalá
390:Conan
326:with
213:Ojalá
1220:2017
1182:2017
1156:2017
1129:2017
1091:2016
1065:2016
1021:2016
995:2017
969:2016
943:2016
916:2017
890:2016
864:2017
835:2016
809:2016
778:2016
752:2017
726:2017
700:2016
671:2016
512:Rise
400:mate
354:and
330:and
191:and
94:.com
44:Born
365:’s
350:,
1257::
1210:.
1173:.
1146:.
1120:.
1082:.
1056:.
1037:.
1012:.
985:.
960:.
933:.
907:.
881:.
854:.
843:^
825:.
800:.
786:^
769:.
742:.
716:.
691:.
679:^
662:.
648:^
548:,
520:,
496:,
358:.
346:,
342:,
338:,
187:,
183:,
179:,
175:,
150:.
138:.
130:,
126:,
1222:.
1184:.
1158:.
1131:.
1093:.
1067:.
1023:.
997:.
971:.
945:.
918:.
892:.
866:.
837:.
811:.
780:.
754:.
728:.
702:.
673:.
538:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
