Results for "Bossa Nova, Samba, Brazilian Jazz"

Ayumi Kobayashi

Mila Samargia

Born: May 4, 1999

Mila Samargia is a Philadelphia-based vocalist whose style blends jazz, Brazilian music, R&B, and contemporary influences with an expressive and genre-fluid approach. Known for her warm tone, musical sensitivity, and natural stage presence, she performs throughout the Philadelphia area in clubs, festivals, concert series, and collaborative projects.

A graduate of Florida Southern College with a degree in Vocal Performance, Mila began performing professionally at a young age and later continued advanced vocal studies in Philadelphia. Her musical background ranges from jazz standards and Brazilian repertoire to contemporary songwriting and classical music, giving her a broad and distinctive artistic voice.

Pete Kelly

Chiara Izzi

Born: May 22

Based in New York City since 2014, Chiara Izzi is an award-winning jazz singer and composer from Italy who has captivated audiences worldwide. Her breakthrough came when she won first prize at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival Vocal Competition, a victory personally awarded by the legendary Quincy Jones, who chaired the jury. The following year, Chiara returned to the festival to perform and open for the iconic Paco de Lucía. She has since earned numerous accolades, including an Independent Music Award for Best Jazz Song with Vocals for her composition "Circles of the Mind," as well as national honors such as Lucca Jazz Donna, third place in the Chicco Bettinardi soloist category, and recognition in the Barga Jazz group category.

Michel Freidenson

Born: August 14, 1961

Release by Michel Freidenson

Considered one of the great pianists of Brazil, Michel Freidenson is a composer, producer, keyboardist, and arranger. Founder of the legendary instrumental group "ZonaAzul," he participated in the effervescence of the Brazilian instrumental movement in the 80s.

Throughout his career, Michel has recorded and participated in shows in Brazil and around the world with great artists such as: Hermeto Pascoal (deceased), Luiz Millan, Djavan, Ivan Lins, Tim Maia (deceased), Filó Machado, Ana Caram, Márcio Montarroyos (deceased), Fafá de Belém, Bocato, Edu Santhana, Léa Freire, Teco Cardoso, Duda Neves, Lô Borges, Raul de Souza, Jane Duboc, Leny de Andrade, Badi Assad, Celso Pixinga, Corciolli, Thijs Van Leer and Bobby Jacobs from the Dutch progressive rock band "Focus," among many others, in addition to having international recognition with his "Michel Freidenson Trio." At age 5 he began playing the guitar. At age 6 he started playing the piano, with guidance from Professor Arlete Ognibene who allowed him "freedom" to create, compose, and have fun according to the inspiration of the moment. Simultaneously, he had the guidance of a great Master, Roberto Ribeiro de Souza (deceased), the guitar professor who taught him music and its transformative power, teaching him to listen to music, perceiving the paths of sounds, intentions, and arrangements, independent of sheet music. At age 14, Michel attended Clam - Centro Livre de Aprendizagem Musical (Free Center for Musical Learning), run by the Zimbo Trio.

Adriana Samargia

Adriana Samargia is an American jazz vocalist and arranger based in the Philadelphia region. Her work spans jazz standards, Brazilian repertoire, and contemporary fusion styles. She performs and records regularly with pianist and composer Robert Prester in the Prester & Samargia Quintet, along with drummer Gusten Rudolph, bassist Zachary Guise, and vocalist Mila Samargia. Their album Quenara (2024) features original compositions by Prester, influenced by jazz harmony, Afro-Brazilian rhythm, and chamber-style textures.

Samargia is also a founding member of The Parson Brown Singers, a vocal ensemble originally formed in Florida and later active in the Northeast. The group is known for its close-harmony arrangements that draw on classical vocal technique and jazz phrasing. She contributed vocals and arranging to First Snow, a holiday album associated with the ensemble.

Homero Alvarez Sep7ett

Homero Alvarez Sep7ett is a dynamic seven-piece ensemble led by guitarist/composer Homero Alvarez. Founded in Sweden, the group crafts an energetic, up-tempo blend of jazz infused with rich Latin American rhythms—drawing from cumbia, samba, baião, maracatu, candombe, and bossa nova—while offering space for individual artistry and improvisation.

Alvarez himself has a diverse musical background: born in Buenos Aires, he and his family relocated to Sweden during his youth. His experience composing for theater, film, TV, and radio shapes much of the emotional depth in his writing. 

Vanessa Finney

Born: May 22

Vanessa Finney grew up in southern California, where she worked as a radio DJ and attended UCLA. Now based in southern Oregon, she hosts two podcasts at Jefferson Public Radio: the pro-aging segment "My Better Half" and "The Creative Way," an artist profile series.

She performs at venues throughout Oregon's wine country and just released her first album, "Bésame Mucho," with arranger Mark Hamersly.

Hot Club SRQ

Hot Club of SRQ - We play Gypsy Jazz that is deeply rooted in the style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. This music simply swings and is full of beauty and romance! We emulate the style of what the French call "Jazz Manouche" and "Le Jazz Hot" in the style of Sinti virtuosos and the "Quintette du Hot Club de France."

The heart of this ensemble is the violin and vocals of Keven Aland, the guitar of Jon McLaughlin and bass playing of Glenn Stevenson. Their string jazz ensemble has been thoughtfully cultivated and crafted for over a decade

Jeffrey Gimble

Born: March 6, 1962

Raised in Texas blues country, in a house full of music, the son of Houston saxophonist and bandleader, Maynard Gimble, he began to reveal his budding talent at the age of four. But, despite his early connection with jazz – frequently going to gigs with his father — it was the musical theatre that dominated the early part of his long career. His resume as an actor includes performances in stage shows such as Hair, Forbidden Broadway and The Tempest, as well as the cult film, Crimson Force.

“For most of my life jazz was something I really liked, and I listened to it... but it was never something that I really explored until I moved to L.A. a few years ago.”