BRAZJAZ

After their captivating sold-out performance last January, BRAZJAZ returns to The JazzLab for another special night, featuring an exciting and creatively charged lineup that promises a vibrant and inspired evening.

JACK EARLE (Piano) YAEL ZAMIR (Flute) JORGE ALBUQUERQUE (Bass)

with special guest DANY MAIA (Vocals)

Together with BRAZJAZ founder and Brazilian-born percussionist CARLOS FERREIRA, they explore the music of Brazil’s great composers, a selection of classic American jazz pieces reimagined with Carlos’ Brazilian-infused arrangements, and Carlos’ own compositions.

A relaxed, joyful night of Samba Jazz created by friends who truly love playing together.
Come share the vibe — it’s always something special.

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ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

JACK EARLE is one of Australia’s finest young musicians. He has performed locally, interstate, and internationally as a soloist, as well as with his bands The Jack Earle Trio and The Jack Earle Big Band (with whom he has independently released albums of original music). When not performing jazz and original music, he can be found working on professional musical theatre productions such as The Lion King and Dream Lover.

YAEL ZAMIR is a musician and composer performing regularly in the Melbourne music scene. Following her study of classical flute, she shifted her interest in 2018 to more improvisatory genres such as jazz and Brazilian choro. She has since had the pleasure of performing alongside esteemed Australian musicians including Alastair Kerr, Paul Grabowsky, Tony Gould, James Sherlock, Rob Burke, Philip Rex, Craig Fermanis, Ben Hanlon, Simon Starr and Mark Fitzgibbon.

Since graduating from the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music in 2022, Yael has been exploring Melbourne’s diverse music scene through a variety of projects, many with an emphasis on Brazilian music. In her own projects and compositions, Yael’s love for Brazilian music is almost always detectable.

JORGE ALBUQUERQUE is a bass player, guitarist, composer and arranger who lives in Melbourne, Australia. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he began his career in the late 1980s playing in local clubs and Brazilian jazz bands such as Orquestra Oficina and Orquestra de Sax. In Brazil he studied with Adriano Gifoni and Nelson Farias, growing up listening to Brazilian music and jazz. His main influences include Egberto Gismonti, Hermeto Pascoal, Toninho Horta, Nico Assumpção, Bill Evans, Chick Corea and Weather Report.

In 1992 he began his career as a music teacher, teaching bass at two of Rio’s most important schools, CIGAN and Centro Musical Antonio Adolfo. During this time he worked with the Antonio Adolfo Trio, featuring Pascoal Meireles on drums. In 1994 he released an album with the band Linha 176 and later recorded Luz da Lua with Marcos Amorim.

He later moved to Miami, performing with artists such as Nestor Torres, Nando Lauria and Leo Gandeman, and recording with Val Lupescu in the Vloop Trio. While in Miami he studied jazz with Gary Campbell, Nike Horta and Denis Marks at Florida International University. His time travelling the world performing in hotels and on cruise ships had a strong influence on his musical development. Now based in Melbourne, Jorge performs with his own band as well as with Panorama do Brasil, Agostina Bruno, BrazJaz, Suingue Brazuca and Dany Maia.

CARLOS FERREIRA, a drummer and percussionist from Rio de Janeiro, brings his deep roots in Samba to Australia, where he has been a key figure in the Brazilian music scene since 1985. He founded Melsamba, Australia’s first Samba school, in 1988, followed by BrazJaz in 1991 and Suingue Brazuca in 2007.

Carlos has performed at major festivals around the world and is widely recognised for his work in Samba Jazz and traditional Samba. In addition to his performance career, he has also been an influential educator and event organiser within the Brazilian and jazz communities.

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Special Guest

DANY MAIA, a Brazilian singer from Bahia, blends traditional rhythms such as Samba and Forró with Bossa Nova and pop influences. She began her career as a dancer before transitioning into singing, leading bands and performing at major Brazilian Carnivals. Her music reflects the vibrant cultural mix of her hometown.

Dany was featured in the 2022 Melbourne Recital Centre special DOIS NA BOSSA, produced and musically directed by Carlos Ferreira for his band Suingue Brazuca, where she delivered one of the standout performances of the night.

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More information:
brazjaz.com
cfdrums.au