Bio

Internationally acclaimed contemporary performing artist, composer, educator, author and journalist, he is recognized worldwide as a primary exponent and disseminator of Brazilian music, he has led original music ensembles for forty years and presenting extensively as a solo artist-educator. solo venues include B.B. King's Latin Guitar Festival, Jazz Forum and guest master class Brazilian Guitar Panorama at New York Guitar Seminar (Mannes / New School University College of the Performing Arts and New York City Classical Guitar Society.

Since 2008, Boukas is composer-leader of Brazilian Jazz ensemble Quarteto Modernoshowcasing his compositions across a panorama of authentic genres. Featuring saxophonist Lucas Pino, bassist Gustavo Amarante and drummer Maurício Zottarelli, ensemble performances include Hudson Hall Jazz Festival, Lehman College Johnny Pacheco Latin Jazz Festival, Branford Jazz Festival (CT), Queens College Year of Brazil and the New Americans Program at New York Public Library. In 2016, the ensemble released its debut CD, QUARTETO MODERNO LIVE! AO VIVO!

In 2016 he formed Diálogos Duo with French clarinetist/bass clarinetist Louis Arques. They have released two CDs: Choro Tributes and Homages to Brazilian Masters

The Duo's complete repertoire composed by Boukas consists of 100 movements (9 suites), the largest body of contemporary Brazilian music composed for clarinet (bass clarinet) and guitar. They have been featured performers at 2021 and 2019 ClarinetFest , annual convention of the International Clarinet AssociationNew York City Classical Guitar Society, American Public Media and WKCR radio (Columbia University).

Diálogos Duo works by Boukas are receiving international recognition by elite guitarists and clarinetists worldwide:

João Luiz of Brasil Guitar Duo: 
"I am certain that Boukas's present and future works will be a perennial contribution to contemporary clarinet-guitar literature."

Alessandro Carbonare (Italian clarinetist and Grammy winner):
"His extensive knowledge of various Brazilian musical styles and great gift for composing now offers us a broader repertoire of tremendous value."

Diálogos Duo also presents onsite and virtual artist residencies at universities worldwide.

Boukas is also founder and leader of Trio Brasileiro (with Amarante and Zottarelli) and Duo Brasileiro (with Amarante). Their repertoire features original compositions, classics from the Brazilian Songbook (MPB) and the rich solo Brazilian guitar tradition from Garôto to Guinga.

His prior acclaimed Duo collaborations have been with pianist-composer Jovino Santos Neto (formerly of Hermeto Pascoal Group) which recorded the CD Balaio and Croatian tambura virtuoso Filip Novosel (CD/DVD, Live at St. Micheal's).

Visit the ENSEMBLES page and dedicated pages for:

QUARTETO MODERNO, DIÁLOGOS DUOTRIO BRASILEIRO and DUO BRASILEIRO.


Richard's other recordings as leader include Amazôna, Embarcadero and Commitment. He also produced the landmark recording Tudo de Bom, featuring the landmark Hermeto Pascoal's historical collection, Calendário do Som. Richard is also featured vocalist-percussionist, composer-arranger with Panamericana Big Band (directed by Gary Morgan).

In 2013-14 he produced and presented several events to commemorate the Queens College Year of Brazil, including the opening concert by Quarteto Moderno, his Brazilian Choral Project for the Queens College Vocal Ensemble and lectures on different aspects of Brazilian music.

A heralded faculty member at New York City’s internationally reknown New School University College of Performing Arts / School of Jazz since 1995 and former faculty at Mannes College and William Paterson University, he founded and directed the Brazilian Jazz and Brazilian Choro Ensembles. He also teaches Improvisation Ensembles, Ear Training, and Guitar Sightreading,  

In 2010 he received the prestigious New School University Distinguished Teaching Award, and in 2011 was faculty representative at the IASJ Convention (International Association for Jazz Schools) in São Paulo, Brazil.

Boukas produced, arranged and presented numerous landmark Brazilian music projects at New School for Performing Arts: 

• Sempre Jacob Centennial Tribute (Jacob do Bandolim, 2017)
• Viva Hermeto! (celebrating Hermeto Pascoal's 80th birthday, 2016)
• Pixinguinha and Contemporaries (2014)
• Ernesto Nazareth 150th Birthday Tribute (2013)
• música mineira project, featuring legendary Minas Gerais composers (2012)

In fall 2015, he joined the professional faculty at  New York Jazz Workshop, where he teaches classes, guest workshops and private lessons.

A four-time recipient of the NEA Grant in Jazz Performance, his many guest artist residencies and masterclasses include Harvard, Cornell, Hudson Jazzworks Composer Series, Lamont School of Music/Denver, Cincinnati Conservatory, Univ. Louisville, Univ. Toronto, Univ. Arizona/Tucson and National Guitar Workshop.

His first significant trip to Brazil was 1998 as guest artist-professor at Campos do Jordão Festival do Inverno in São Paulo. Other educational activities in Brazil include Federal University of Minas Gerais/Belo Horizonte (UFMG), panelist-presenter at Congresso música criativa / Savassi Festival (UniRio, Rio de Janeiro) and guest composer on the virtual series Música em Debate at Federal Institute of Pernambuco (Recife).

Richard holds an MA in Composition from Queens College/Aaron Copland School of Music, for which he presented his thesis on the music of Hermeto Pascoal. Aside from his diverse Brazilian jazz repertoire, he has composed numerous commissioned chamber works for ensembles including La Catrina String Quartet, PUBLIQuartet String Quartet, World String Orchestra of Berklee College, Modern Mandolin Quartet, Atlantic Brass Quintet, Lamont Saxophone Quartet, Queens College Vocal Ensemble and Panamericana Big Band. He has also composed works for Sopros de Pernambuco, acclaimed clarinet quartet in Recife, Brazil.

Boukas has also created numerous Brazilian choral arrangements based on the music of Milton Nascimento, Sérgio Santos, Guinga, Radamés Gnattali and Ernesto Nazareth. These pieces were premiered by the Queens College Vocal Ensemble and are generating the interest of major choirs in Brazil and beyond. He has also created over twenty Beatles Motets which have been performed by Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble. Richard has also composed an extensive body of solo Brazilian guitar works including the seven-movement Guinga Suite.

Apart from his own creative and academic work, he is a veteran Broadway and studio musician/producer, and an endorsing artist-consultant for LaBella Strings since 1980. He is also a composer and ensemble (Diálogos Duo) member of Chamber Music America.

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