RESUME
Seasoned musician with over twenty years of experience in the field, a Grammy nominated producer, has performed on many TV shows in the US and abroad, has done tours playing stadiums, arenas and theaters in major cities all over the world, has been featured as a guitarist on TV shows and feature films, has written music for major artists and world-class ensembles.
PERFORMING, WRITING AND PRODUCING EXPERIENCE
Guitarist for Michael Bublé | 2011-2022
Played in world tours, national and international TV and radio shows, some recordings and is featured on the film Tour Stop 148.
Musical Director and Guitarist for Gretchen Parlato | 2017-2022
Was the musical director and guitarist for this group as well as producer for their record, Flor. Aside from making a Grammy-nominated record the group played many concerts and festivals in the US, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Korea.
Arranger for Jason Mraz, the San Diego Symphony, the NY Pops | 2021-2023
Arranged two of Jason Mraz’s songs for full orchestra to perform live at Rady Shell at Jacob’s Park
Co-writer with Jason Mraz | 2020
Co-wrote the song Make Love on Mraz’s record Look For The Good
Arranger and Orchestrator for the Disney+ show American Born Chinese | 2023
Arranged and orchestrated Wendy Wang’s original music for a full orchestra that was recorded live in Los Angeles
Other notable achievements as a performer | 2001-present
Has been featured as a guitarist on films Rio 2, Pitch Perfect 3, the TV show Dexter, recordings by Herb Alpert, Sérgio Mendes, Tom Harrell and tours with Bebel Gilberto and Macy Gray.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Nominated for a Grammy on Gretchen Parlato’s record “Flor” in the category of Best Vocal Jazz Album. Marcel is the musical director of this project, he is also one of the producers of the record as well as the performer of all of the guitars and cavaquinho parts and some of the keyboard parts as well.
Honorable mention for his String Quartet Nº1 at the FMMC competition, 2012
INSTRUMENTS
Guitar – electric and acoustic, fingerstyle or pick
Electric Bass
Ukelele
Piano
Voice
RECENT RELEASES
A Living Place: An EP of solo guitar music created entirely at home in the Brazilian guitar tradition. 2025
Quebra-Cabeça: A collection of original music that started as musical puzzles. 2025
Leza Mi: Self-titled album of the duet between Marcel and Jessica Vautor, a collection of arrangements and originals. Some tracks feature Domenico Lancelotti and André de Santanna. 2024
Flor: Above-mentioned Grammy-nominated record by Gretchen Parlato featuring arrangements and original music. Marcel was musical director and producer. 2021
LANGUAGES
Portuguese: Native language
English: Fluent Speaker, fluent Reading and Writing
Spanish: Advanced Listener, Intermediate Speaker, Advanced Reading and Writing
French: Intermediate Listener, Novice Speaker, Intermediate Reading and Writing
EDUCATION
University of California, Los Angeles, BA in Ethnomusicology, Los Angeles, CA 1995- 1999
Studied under Kenny Burrell, Billy Higgins, Harold Land, Gerald and Anthony Wilson, Tom Ranier
Lynbrook High School, San Jose, CA, 1993-1995
Colégio Santa Clara, São Paulo, Brazil, 1989-1993
Colégio Rio Branco, São Paulo, Brazil, 1983-1989