Mario Bakuna & Band: Brazilian Landscapes

A graduate of the Free University of Music in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Mario studied with musicians such as Olmir Stocker, Roberto Sion and Roberto Bomilcar (pianist who played with Frank Sinatra during his visit to Brazil). In Brazil, Mario Bakuna has played alongside the trombonist Itacir Bocato, guitarist Renato Consorte, and pianist Nelson Aires, just to name a few.

Following his first album ‘Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia’, Mario’s most recent release is ‘Brazilian Landscapes’ which features new arrangements of material by great composers such as Marcos Valle, Claudio Bertrami, Rique Pantoja, Gilberto Gil, Djavan, João Bosco, Arismar do Espirito Santo, and the ‘forrozeiros’ Dominguinhos and Luiz Gonzaga. The album is a tribute to the culture and memory of Brazilian people and it’s the result of years of inspiration Mario Bakuna drew upon while travelling through Brazil, experiencing its rhythmic and harmonic richness. From the arid landscape of the northeast, which is reflected in the chorus of songs of Forró, Baião and Xaxado, to the African influence found in Ijexá, the popularity of Samba and the sophistication of Bossa Nova, Mario Bakuna and his musicians celebrate the most musically rich territory on Earth.

The concert has been a great success and already counts with sold-out nights in London, Dublin, Paris, Budapest, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Porto, Lisbon and Mannheim. Festivals: Estonia (headliner at Juu Jääb Jazz Festival), Azerbaijan (headliner at Baku Jazz Festival); UK (EFG London Jazz Festival, Henley Festival, Ealing Jazz Festival; Aberjazz Festival); Madagascar (Noisy Be Jazz Festival); Romania (Csíki Jazz Festival); Cyprus (headliner at Paradise Jazz Festival); Denmark (headliner at Jazz I Eltrik Gaarden Festival).