Claudia Villela Group

Vocalist Claudia Villela brings a new burst of energy and ingenuity to the classic compositions of Brazilian songwriting legends Antonio Carlos Jobim and Milton Nascimento with the help of Vitor Goncalves on piano and accordian; Jeff Buenz on guitar; Gary Brown on bass; and Celso Alberti on drums. Villela’s talent for musical exploration has no limits as her past collaborations with Toots Thielemanns, Kenny Werner, and Michael Brecker can attest. The Rio de Janeiro native can’t remember a time when she wasn’t singing or otherwise involved in music. With this concert, she pays tribute to two giants of Brazilian music, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Milton Nascimento, both of whom not only influenced several generations of Brazilian musicians, but performers from all around the world with their timeless music. Villela’s compositions and vocal improvisations encompass the full span of human emotions, sometimes dramatic, sometimes humorous, but always fascinating. As she describes her style, “My singing is the sum of all the music I’ve heard, from Brazilian baroque to bossa nova to free improvisation, both the nostalgic and the modern.” JazzTimes magazine has described her as, “a female Bobby McFerrin.”