2018 Samba, Choro & Jazz Concert Series

Announcing the first annual
Samba, Choro & Jazz Concert Series

Samba Jig Productions is excited to announce its first annual Samba, Choro & Jazz Concert Series for Fall 2018. The series brings four critically acclaimed international performing artists to the Washington, DC metropolitan area. These artists represent the highest level of samba music and choro (an instrumental Brazilian jazz). This year’s artist line-up includes the Hamilton de Holanda Trio, Neguinho da Beija-Flor, Choro Das 3, and the Brazilian Strings Trio.

The 2018 Samba, Choro & Jazz Concert Series was created by Samba Jig Productions founders Pablo Regis and Kate Spanos, in partnership with the The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland. The series engages audiences in the Washington, DC metropolitan area with a creative and talented roster of Brazilian performers. This is the latest effort in Samba Jig’s work to bring more Brazilian artists to a region that is typically overlooked when they tour the United States. In addition to the concert series, Samba Jig will offer interactive workshops with the artists and moderated pre-show talks with local experts on Brazilian music to foster audience-performer interaction and learning. (Details forthcoming.)

Brazil’s diverse music, ranging from cool bossa nova jazz to percussive Afro-Brazilian rhythms, has played an influential role in shaping global and American music, as well as received influences from around the world. The 2018 Samba, Choro & Jazz Concert Series opens the universe of these Brazilian music genres to DC area audiences, and brings these visiting artists in touch with new publics. Each of these artists demonstrates a unique take on samba, choro, or Brazilian jazz, exemplifying just how rich, fun, and interactive these genres are.

This series is a partnership with The Clarice and MilkBoy ArtHouse, a local crossroads for dynamic entertainment, social gathering and creative dining in downtown College Park, MD. All concerts will take place at MilkBoy ArtHouse.

Artist Roster

Hamilton de Holanda Trio (choro and jazz)

Friday, August 3
MilkBoy ArtHouse, College Park, MD

Hailed by Wynton Marsalis as a “national treasure,” Hamilton de Holanda is a multiple Latin Grammy award-winning artist, widely acknowledged one of the greatest mandolin players in the world. Hamilton is celebrated for his tour-de-force compositions and stunning command of the mandolin. He was the highlight, sold-out performance of the Washington DC Ibero-American Guitar Festival held at the Smithsonian in 2009 and we are thrilled to bring him back to the DC area with his trio this year.

Tickets and information: www.sambajig.com/hamilton

Neguinho da Beija-Flor (samba)

Saturday, October 13
MilkBoy ArtHouse, College Park, MD

Neguinho da Beija-Flor is bringing the energy of Rio’s samba carnival festivities to the USA! Neguinho is perhaps the most iconic and charismatic samba parade singers from Rio de Janeiro. He is the official singer of one of Rio’s most popular samba associations, Beija-Flor de Nilópolis, and he led the group to win this year’s 2018 carnival in Rio de Janeiro, with the song “Monstro é aquele que não sabe amar.” This song was a social commentary that compared several of Brazil’s recent social and economic woes with the Mary Shelley novel Frankenstein. On this tour, he will be singing some of his samba classics as well as more recent hits.

Tickets and information: www.sambajig.com/neguinho

Brazilian Strings Trio (choro and jazz) — CANCELLED

Thursday, October 25
MilkBoy ArtHouse, College Park, MD

Brazilian Strings Trio joins three of the most innovative instrumentalists on the contemporary Brazilian musical scene: fiddler/violinist Andrew Finn Magill, known nationally and internationally for his jazz and choro music, from his roots in traditional Irish and bluegrass; violin/mandolin player Ted Falcon, a widely recognized musician, composer, author, and professor of Brazilian music; and 7-string guitarist Nando Duarte, a giant of the contemporary Brazilian music scene and an award-winning composer and arranger.

Tickets and information: www.sambajig.com/brazilianviolin

Choro Das 3 (choro)

Friday, November 9
MilkBoy ArtHouse, College Park, MD

Choro Das 3 is a vibrant and virtuosic all-female instrumental ensemble, carrying on the rich tradition of Brazil’s first popular music choro. Among many high profile events, they have performed at São Paulo’s New Year’s Eve open air event for over 1 million people. They have won multiple prizes and awards, including Best Group of Popular Music from the Paulista Association of Art Critics and the Adoniran Barbosa Prize.

Choro Das 3 sold out last year’s concert at MilkBoy ArtHouse and wowed the audience with their stunning virtuosity, complex harmonies, and powerful stage presence. This year, the group is celebrating 15 years as a professional touring ensemble and will be debuting a new album.

Tickets and information: www.sambajig.com/chorodas3