Percussion
Ami Molinelli is a professional percussionist and educator specializing in American (roots/pop/jazz), Brazilian and Latin music. Ami received her Master of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts. Her performance and recording credits include theater, and television (NBC). She is endorsed by Latin Percussion (LP) and Rhythm Tech.
Her current musical project Raizes do Choro & Samba with acclaimed guitar masters Rogério Souza and Edinho Gerber from Duo Violão Brasil + 1 features women composers and the intersection between choro and samba following their 2019 “História do Choro” album (celebrated as one of the best jazz albums from the Bay Area, Andy Gilbert, San Jose Mercury News). She is a two-time San Francisco Arts Commission Individual Artist Recipient and with DV+1 was featured at the Chamber Music Association live showcase in 2021.
She co-leads the Brazilian and Jazz ensemble, Grupo Falso Baiano with three albums to their credit: “Depois” released in 2017, “Simplicidade – Live at Yoshi’s” and “Viajando em Choro e Jazz.” Grupo Falso Baiano has been featured on NPR’s The California Report, Radio Latina, and Pandora LIVE!
Her Pandeiro Method Book will be launched by Mel Bay in 2024! A guide for beginning Pandeiro. In addition, her percussion curriculum has been used and published in clinics and education workshops including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The San Francisco Jazz Center, the Los Angeles Music Center, Young Audiences of Northern California, UFBA Ouro Preto, Brasil, HeadStart (San Mateo County), Los Angeles Music Academy, California Brazil Camp, Jazz Camp West, etc.
She is cofounder and director of Music Is First! a music and literacy integration non-profit reaching under-served early education classrooms in the Bay Area. Ami has performed and recorded with artists such as Jovino Santos Neto, Guello, Michael Spiro, John Santos, Rogério Souza and Duo Violão, Jai Uttal, George Duke, Teka, José Neto, Kenny Washington, Billy Hart, Nilson Mattá, Rique Pantojá, Hamilton de Holanda, Josh Nelson, and more..
