Luciana Souza and Romero Lubambo

George Weston Recital Hall

April 21, 2012

Presented by JPEC

7:30 PM

JPEC presents Brazilian Duos: Luciana Souza and Romero Lubambo, also featuring Amanda Tosoff Quartet

Luciana Souza, voice
Romero Lubambo, guitar

Grammy winner Luciana Souza is one of Jazz’s leading singers and interpreters. Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil, she grew up in a family of Bossa Nova innovators. Her work as a performer transcends traditional boundaries around musical styles, offering solid roots in jazz, sophisticated lineage in world music, and an enlightened approach to classical repertoire and new music.

As a leader, Luciana Souza has eight acclaimed releases including her four Grammy nominated records "Brazilian Duos," 2002, "North and South," 2003, and "Duos II," 2005, and “Tide,” 2009. Her debut recording for Universal/Verve "The New Bossa Nova, " (2007) was met with critical acclaim (Bilboard Latin Jazz Album of the Year) and on “Tide,” Luciana “continued her captivating journey as a uniquely talented vocalist who organically crosses genre borders. Her music soulfully reflects, wistfully regrets, romantically woos, joyfully celebrates…”(Billboard).

Romero Lubambo’s guitar playing unites the styles and rhythms of his native Brazilian musical heritage with his fluency in the American jazz tradition to form a distinctive new sound. From the cool, sophisticated rhythms of his native Brazil to hard bop, Romero is a guitarist who's comfortable in any musical setting. He is an uncommonly gifted soloist and musical improviser with a steady stream of unpredictably creative musical thoughts and the virtuosity to deliver them ever so tastefully.

Lubambo has performed and recorded with many outstanding artists, including Dianne Reeves, Michael Brecker, Yo-Yo Ma, Kathleen Battle, Diana Krall, Herbie Mann, Wynton Marsalis, Gal Costa, Kurt Elling, Kenny Barron, Cyro Baptista, Sergio and Odair Assad, Ivan Lins, Grover Washington Jr., Flora Purim and Airto, Paquito D'Rivera, Harry Belafonte, Larry Coryell, Gato Barbieri, Leny Andrade, and Cesar Camargo Mariano. www.romerolubambo.com

Also Featuring: Amanda Tosoff Quartet

Amanda Tosoff, piano
Chris Gale, saxophone
Jon Maharaj, bass
Morgan Childs, drums

Toronto-based jazz pianist and composer Amanda Tosoff has emerged as one of the top new talents on the Canadian jazz scene. Originally from White Rock, British Columbia, Amanda has performed with a long list of internationally recognized talent, including such luminaries as Ingrid Jensen, Jon Wikan, Phil Dwyer, Jodi Proznick, Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Christine Jensen, Joel Miller, Brad Turner, Steve Wallace, Campbell Ryga and many others. Her quartet has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award (2007) at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, and the General Motors Grand Prix de Jazz at the Montréal Jazz Festival (2009).