Allison Adams Tucker, left, sings during the 2008 Brasil Jazz Festa at the Encinitas Library.

It was a shared love of Brazilian music--particularly Brazilian jazz--that led a group of local musicians to pull together last fall's initial Brasil Jazz Festa.

Reaction was so positive that they've decided to make it an annual event, with the second iteration Nov. 22 at Encinitas Library.

Co-founder Allison Adams Tucker, a jazz singer making her home in Leucadia, said the inspiration for the festival came from an experience that another local musician had at a Brazilian music camp a couple of years ago.

“They've been having this Brazil camp (in Northern California's Sonoma County) 10 or 11 years, and they bring in faculty for dance, specific instruments, percussion, vocals, even a Portuguese class," she said.

“Two summers ago, Louisa West came back from it really inspired--and one of the faculty members that year was Chico Pinheiro. We all went up to the Jazz Bakery (in L.A.) and saw his show a week after that and chatted with him afterward.

“We were all really inspired to try to do something in San Diego to turn jazz lovers on to Chico Pinheiro," Tucker said.

Last year's inaugural event was a tribute to Pinheiro, a guitarist and composer.

Tucker said the program this year will be more varied.

“This year, instead of just highlighting the music of Chico Pinheiro, we're opening it up to all the musics of Brazil," she said.

In addition to Tucker and West (a flutist from San Diego), other participants (all local to San Diego County) include pianist Danny Green; guitarist Jimmy Patton; bassists Grant Clarkson, Evona Wascinski and Justin Grinnell; guitarist and singer Andy Villas-Boas; and percussionists/drummers Enrique Platas, Mark Lamson and Ruben Mello.

The musicians will perform in four ensembles, Tucker said, with some of the participants in more than one ensemble.

Each lineup will play a half-hour set.

Given the grass-roots nature of the event, Tucker said they're not able to sell tickets in advance--instead, tickets will be sold only the day of the event.

Tucker said the library can hold about 150 people.

Brasil Jazz Festa 2009
When: 2 p.m. Nov. 22
Where: Encinitas library, 540 Cornish Drive, Encinitas
Tickets: $15, sold at door only