Wilson Curia started studying the piano at the age of 13, being taught by Paul Urbach, H. Koellreutter, Nellie Braga and Maria Helena Silveira.

Release

In 1954, while he was studying Law at PUC (Pontifical Catholic University) / SP – he won the prize of best amateur Jazz pianist of São Paulo.

He participated in the Sarah Vaughan‘s first appearance in Brazil on TV “Record”, accompanied by “Azeitona” (bass) and Chim (drums).

Together with Sergio Mendes, he took part in one of the first Jazz concerts given by “Folha de S.Paulo” newspaper and was qualified in a poll organized by the same newspaper, as one of the best musicians of São Paulo.

In 1956, during a presentation of the Dizzy Gillespie’s band in São Paulo, he had the opportunity to play with three of Gillespie's best musicians : Phil Woods (alto sax), Frank Rehack (trombone) and Marty Flax (baritone sax).

For 6 months, he played in a group formed by Hector Costita (tenor sax), Magno D’Alcântara (trumpet), Luiz Chaves (bass) and Rubens Barsotti (drums), appearing on Mondays at “Teatro de Arena”, a theater in São Paulo.

He also performed with Booker Pitman (alto sax, soprano and clarinet), Shu Viana (bass), Maciel (trombone) and “Gafieira” (drums), on a famous jam session to pay homage to Rev. Priest John Crowley who was travelling in Brazil at that time.

In 1959, he completed the course in Modern Harmony, Improvisation, Arranging and Orchestration at Berklee College of Music, being taught by: Robert Share, Jim Progris and Harry Smith.

His “Modern Method for Piano Bossa Nova" was included in the March issue of the Down Beat magazine in 1974, as the most important publication about Bossa Nova in the United States.

In 1979, during Liza Minnelli’s stay in São Paulo, Wilson Curia was invited to accompany her in one of her rehearsals.

When Harold Danko (Liza Minnelli's accompanyist) and Mike Wofford (the pianist in Benny Carter's band) visited São Paulo, Wilson had the opportunity to play with both at two pianos.

In 1980, he appeared, with a quartet, in the 2nd International Jazz Festival, which took place at the “Palácio das Convenções do Anhembi” in São Paulo/SP. 150 brazilian musicians,along with 70 from outside Brasil, performed at the festival.

During the workshops in São Paulo, he also had the opportunity to play with Jamey Aebersold and Chuck Marohnic.

He is the author of several books and video-lessons, some of which are being distributed by Jamey Aebersold.

He runs a piano school in São Paulo, where he had many professional musicians among his students, such as: Hector Costita, Luiz Chaves, José Briamonte, Maestro Branco, Silvio Cesar, Madalena de Paula, Osmar Milito, Aloisio Aguiar, musicians from the group of Roberto Carlos, Jessé, Guilherme Arantes, Roberto Leal, Wanderlea and others.

He participated in several TV programs, such as: “Ponto de Encontro” (TV “Cultura” Channel, with Walter Lourenção), “90 Minutos” (TV “Bandeirantes”, with Nuno Leal Maia), “Brasil 65” (TV “Excelcior”, with Bibi Ferreira), "Almanaque" (Tv Globo News With Elisabete Pacheco).

On September 5, 2000 the "International Association of Jazz Educators" honoured Wilson with a " Lifetime Achievement Award " in recognition for outstanding service and dedication to Jazz.