NOV 9-12 | Claudia Villela
Nov 09 - Nov 12, 2023
Joe Henderson Lab
PLEASE NOTE:
This page is an archive of a past production
Please visit our calendar for all upcoming SFJAZZ shows.
Original show description below.
“A Brazilian-born genius with a blistering voice" (JazzTimes), the dynamic Rio-born artist Claudia Villela has developed a reputation as a singularly unique singer, pianist and composer, lending her five-octave voice to work with jazz luminaries including Kenny Werner, Michael Brecker and Toots Thielemans. She returns with a procession of collaborators over the week, including guitarist Ricardo Peixoto, woodwind player and pianist Gary Meek, and accordionist Vitor Gonçalves.
Inspired to sing from hearing the intoxicating sounds emanating from the samba school behind her grandmother’s house, Villela began singing professionally as a teen and eventually moved to the Bay Area. A scholarship to New York’s Manhattan School of Music and studies with the legendary Sheila Jordan cemented Villela’s jazz credentials, and she returned to California as an artist on a mission to create fresh, original music born of her Brazilian upbringing and passion for jazz. She blends the ever-present samba of her native Brazil with jazz, blues, and songs from around the globe, inspiring the iconic San Francisco Chronicle critic Phil Elwood to enthuse, “Villela doesn't just sing – she actually dances with her voice on top of Brazilian beats.”
Known to SFJAZZ audiences for her intoxicating salutes to composer Antônio Carlos Jobim, vocalist Elis Regina, and the classic Stan Getz/João Gilberto album Getz/Gilberto with saxophonist Harvey Wainapel, Villela has released three scintillating albums.
“A Brazilian-born genius with a blistering voice" (JazzTimes), the Bay Area-based singer and pianist returns with her signature blend of jazz and Brazilian music.
Soulful expression steeped in the now, crafting the future sound of jazz.
DownBeat
Soulful expression steeped in the now, crafting the future sound of jazz.
DownBeat
Personnel
Thursday Nov 9th
Claudia Villela voice, piano, percussion
Ricardo Peixoto guitars
Friday Nov 10th
Claudia Villela voice, piano, percussion
Gary Meek saxophones, flutes, melodica, piano
Saturday Nov 11 & Sunday Nov 12
Claudia Villela voice, piano, percussion
Vitor Gonçalves accordion, piano
Villela doesn't just sing – she actually dances with her voice on top of Brazilian beats
san francisco chronicle
Personnel
Thursday Nov 9th
Claudia Villela voice, piano, percussion
Ricardo Peixoto guitars
Friday Nov 10th
Claudia Villela voice, piano, percussion
Gary Meek saxophones, flutes, melodica, piano
Saturday Nov 11 & Sunday Nov 12
Claudia Villela voice, piano, percussion
Vitor Gonçalves accordion, piano
Villela doesn't just sing – she actually dances with her voice on top of Brazilian beats
san francisco chronicle
Watch & Listen
Claudia Villela
Cuscus
Claudia Villela
Cumeno Com Cuentro
Claudia Villela
Cuscus
Claudia Villela
Cumeno Com Cuentro