The Brazilian Big Band takes their high energy show to Chicago and Urbana

Imagine Count Basie went to Rio de Janeiro and combined his big band with a samba school. This only begins to describe the powerful and joyous energy of Gafieira Rio Miami, the 11-piece band founded and led by Latin GRAMMY winning bassist Diogo Brown. This phenomenal group features lively samba percussion, a swinging hornsection, and the beautiful voice of Isa Duarte. Gafieira Rio Miami fuses samba, jazz and soul inspired by the joyous, 20th century Rio de Janeiro ballroom dance music known as “samba de gafieira”. “This band is a group of musicians in Miami who are in fact bringing back that art of big band samba. It’s a fantastic concept!” according to NPR.

Yes, the band is reviving the gafieira style, but also adding funk grooves and jazz improvisation. With members from diverse backgrounds including Brazil, US and Venezuela, the live repertoire includes gorgeous arrangements of classics by Gilberto Gil, Djavan, Caetano Veloso, Jorge Benjor, Alcione, Wilson das Neves, Moacir Santos and others.