Jazz Articles about Phill Fest

About Phill Fest

Album Review

Gafieira Rio Miami: Beleza Pura

Read "Beleza Pura" reviewed by Katchie Cartwright

by Katchie Cartwright
May 16, 2026

Put on your dancing shoes for Beleza Pura, the sophomore release of Gafieira Rio Miami, the South Florida-based Latin big band. The album presents an exuberant program of Brazilian and Latin jazz standards, updated with spirited arrangements by Ricardo Gilly. The mood is upbeat and the performances are peppered with guest appearances by such Brazilian luminaries as singer Roberta Sá, seven-string guitar virtuoso Yamandu Costa, pianist-composer Antonio Adolfo, and singer-dancer Luciana Mello, along with Puerto Rican flute ace Nestor Torres ...

Album Review

Phill Fest: Cafe Fon Fon

Read "Cafe Fon Fon" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
May 3, 2021

While there is no sure cure for the blues, a large dose of Brazilian music often comes about as close to driving the dark clouds away as any remedy a physician is likely to prescribe. It is hard to listen to an album such as guitarist-composer Phill Fest's sunny Café Fon Fon without smiling and tapping your toes as misery and sadness bid their goodbyes. Who could resist the urge to grin while listening, for example, to his rhythmic salute ...

Album Review

Phill Fest: Projeto B.F.C.

Read "Projeto B.F.C." reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
November 12, 2013

Living in the South Florida area for over a decade now, guitarist Phill Fest rolls out a recording of Brazilian-style modern jazz dedicated to the strong ties that make Florida and Brazil so special to the development of his personal and professional musical career. Projeto B.F.C. (Project Brazil-Florida Connection) celebrates the proud Fest family tradition in the world of Brazilian music where father Manfredo Fest forged his connection to the bossa nova and samba jazz as keyboardist to the Bossa ...