Événement

Diego Figueiredo invites KENIA

Brazilian guitar virtuoso Diego Figueiredo has amazed audiences across the U.S. with his talent and is returning for one last performance in Pittsburgh on his 2017 tour. He will play an intimate show with local jazz singer (and fellow Brazilian native) Kenia at the legendary James Street Gastropub and Speakeasy.

In addition to their Brazilian roots and passion for Brazilian music and jazz, the artists both exhibit an engaging stage presence that leaves audiences with an infectious, joyful feeling. The pair performed together in a sold out house concert series in 2016 and look forward to collaborating again this fall. This will be a unique show with a decidedly Brazilian flair and energy featuring the music of Joao Bosco as well as other Brazilian classics.

As a relatively new star of the guitar world, Diego is already considered among the world's greatest jazz guitarists. He began playing electric guitar in local theaters and nightclubs in Brazil at age 12; at age 15, he conquered theaters and nightclubs in many different Brazilian states, playing solo or with renowned musicians. Now at just age 35, he has already released 23 CDs and three DVDs, and was named winner of several important competitions like the Montreux Jazz Competition (twice) and the VISA Prize. His superb fingering technique, timing and imagination have made him one of the hottest international names right now with successful concerts in more than 50 countries. Diego's music is a product of his exploration of a fusion between jazz, bossa nova and classical music.

George Benson said, "Diego Figueiredo is one of the greatest guitarists I've seen in my whole life. The world needs to listen to his music."

Renowned for her ability to translate the complex rhythms of her Brazilian homeland into jazzy creations that made her a star of the smooth jazz movement two decades ago, Kenia embodies the best of the Brazilian sound with a voice that is deep and sultry, richly diverse, unexpectedly explosive. She creates her own unique blend of pop, bossa nova and jazz.

A fixture of the U.S. jazz scene since the 1980's, Kenia's soulful voice pairs well with the innovative guitar playing of newcomer Diego. Diego played to a sold out show in Pittsburgh this past July, and this is one more chance to hear this virtuoso play.