The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents three-time Grammy-nominated Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza for one night only, touring in support of her new release The New Bossa Nova (8/07). Band members are TBA. Set time On Tuesday is 7:30pm and doors open at 6:00pm.
Three-time Grammy nominee Luciana Souza was raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she grew up in a family of Bossa Nova composers. A respected composer and vocalist, she defies categories bringing her outstanding musicianship and unique sound to any project. The New York Times has called her “an impressive singer” and “quite serious composer”. Whether performing works by Osvaldo Golijov and Manuel Wheeler, singing with the big bands of Maria Schneider and Kenny Wheeler, or performing in small jazz groups, Souza brings something to the music that has been called “transcendental.”
The New Bossa Nova, is Luciana’s first recording for Universal Jazz, France. The CD is a collection of songs drawing from Joni Mitchell and James Taylor to Brian Wilson and Jobim. The record was produced by Luciana’s husband, Larry Klein (longtime producer of Joni Mitchell, Madeleine Peyroux, and Shawn Colvin).
Souza received a degree in jazz composition from Berklee College of Music, and a master’s degree from New England Conservatory. In addition to her three Grammy nominations (2002, 2003, 2005) she was named Top Rising Female Vocalist in Downbeat Magazine’s Critics Poll in 2005 and 2006. She was awarded Female Jazz Singer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2005 and has taught at Berklee College of Music and the Manhattan School of Music.
Since relocating out West, Luciana has been busy continuing her residency with San Francisco Performances, the prestigious non-profit institution in the Bay area. This Fall, Luciana is working closely with the San Francisco Girls Chorus.