Piano is in Helio Alves’s DNA. Playing since age 6, the Jazz and Bossa Nova veteran will treat New York City audiences Aug. 11 at the Zinc Bar.

Alves was born in Sao Paulo in 1966 and gravitated to jazz in his teens. He moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music and received his degree in 1990. In Boston he would meet trumpeter Claudio Roditi, who advised the 24-year old pianist to move to New York – which he did in 1993.

Since then, the pianist and composer has been praised as a sideman with Joe Henderson, Yo-Yo Ma, Paquito D’Rivera, Gato Barbieri, Dave Samuels, Airto Moreira and Flora Purim, Oscar Castro-Neves, and more. He has also recorded two albums with Roditi, ‘Samba Manhattan Style’ (1995) and ‘Double Standards’ (1997).

From 1995-97, Alves toured with Joe Henderson’s DoubleRainbow Quartet, celebrating the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, and was featured in the Grammy-winning release, ‘Joe Henderson’s Big Band’ (Verve, 1996). Alves was the pianist on Grammy-winning releases by Yo-Yo Ma (‘Obrigado Brazil,’ 2003) and Paquito D’Rivera (‘Brazilian Dreams,’ 2002), and on the Grammy-nominated ‘Samba Jazz Fantasia’ (Malandro Records, 2002), by Duduka Da Fonseca, and ‘Forests’ (Zoho Music 2008) by the Brazilian Trio, his band with Da Fonseca and bassist Nilson Matta. His playing has also appeared on albums by Rosa Passos, Joyce, Herbie Mann, Gal Costa, and many others.

Alves will be playing three shows at The Zinc Bar, located at 
82 West Third Street. For tickets or more information, click here.

Suavemente! That is the term once used to describe the sound of New York-based French vocalist, song stylist, and poet Pascalito. And the performer brings his show and his band to The Metropolitan Room in New York City on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m.

Pascalito was born Pascal Sabattier, in Paris, to a musical family of Mediterranean Jewish roots. 
He grew up listening to an eclectic mix of singers from Charles Aznavour, Claude Nougaro, Henri Salvador, Chet Baker, and Caetano Veloso. His voice and charismatic stage presence have made him a rising talent on the New York jazz and world music scene. Two original songs from his debut album ‘Le Blues d’Orphée’, released in 2007, were featured in the hit TV shows “Burn Notice” (USA) and “Damages” (FX).
His new album ‘Neostalgia’ was recorded in New York with a cast of international musicians from Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Texas. It was co-produced, recorded and mixed by Swiss producer/arranger Thomas Foyer and mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Alan Silverman.

Through lyrical songs with poetic narratives and rich instrumentation, ‘Neostalgia’ takes listeners on an atmospheric journey at the crossroads of different cultures and generations, blending the influences of Latin Jazz, Bossa Nova, French Chanson, Blues, and Pop to create a colorful signature sound. Pascolito’s band features: Sarina Suno (violin); Luca Hara Garacci (guitar); José Moura (bass); and Mike Ramsey (percussion).

The Metropolitan Room is located at 34 West 22d Street. For tickets or more information call 212-206-0440 or click here.

Sergio Mendes has been getting nice reviews for his new album and the artist recently sat down with L.A. Weekly to talk about his five decades in Brazilian music. The artist also touched on his recording history with some of the greatest names in jazz and Brazilian sound, his life in the United States, and his music-making process.

Here is a bit on his life in the U.S. and the beginnings of his career:

• L.A. WEEKLY: You’ve been living in L.A. for many, many years. Do you consider your music Brazilian, international or part of the West Coast sound?

• I’ve been in the U.S. since 1964, but I go back every year to Brazil, spend time with the family. When I first came to L.A., I liked the weather and I played some clubs here and I met Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert. [Their] A&M Records was just starting. I like it here. I came to New York first with the bossa nova festival at Carnegie Hall with Stan Getz, then I went back to Brazil, and after that L.A. has been my second home.

• The songs that made me famous were most of them Brazilian songs. “Mais que Nada” was my first hit: It became internationally famous. I was living in Glendale, rehearsing, and that’s when I met Jerry and Herb and things started happening. Of course living here, the sun and everything else affected a lot. Also the great musicians that are here, that I’ve had the chance to work with.

• It’s a little different than if I decided to go to Wyoming, but the music is basically Brazilian music. That’s why I called it Brazil ’66.

What are your thoughts on Sergio Mendes and his stellar career?

By Sean Chaffin, Editor/Senior Writer

Last Updated: July 30, 2010, 2010; 7:10 pm CT

Madison Square Garden, here she comes.

Ivete Snagalo, one of Brazil’s best-selling Brazilian female singers is bringing her powerful and sultry voice to the U.S. for three shows kick-started in Miami and capped off in New York City. The New York show will also be recorded for the DVD Multishow Live – Ivete Sangalo at Madison Square Garden.

Sangalo is a phenomenon in her native country as a singer and songwriter of Brazilian Popular Music, and a Latin Grammy award winner. She also occasionally lends her talents as an actress and television show host in Brazil. Her albums have sold millions of copies, and she has toured throughout the country.

Born in Bahia in 1972, Sangalo began singing at an early age at school and bars, her success eventually leading to a recording contract in 1993 with Sony to become the lead singer of the Axé group Banda Eva. Axé is a type of music from Bahia derived from blending several Afro-Brazilian styles of music including Reggae and Calypso. Her career thrived with Banda Eva, and the band’s live album, Banda Eva Ao Vivo, sold more than a million copies. In 1997, Sangalo made the decision to go solo and released a self-titled album in 1999, which went platinum. The album Beat Beleza followed and also garnered platinum status. In 2002, she released Se Eu Não te Amasse Tanto Assim (If I Didn’t Love You So Much), with the album-titled track reaching No. 1 on the singles charts. The album also contained a duet with American R&B artist Brian McKnight. Sangalo’s career would continue to climb in the coming years.

In 2004, MTV Live: Ivete Sangalo was released and continued the sales success for the artist. The album was a hit, with live versions of her mostr popular songs and some Banda Eva hits as well. The album was the second best-selling album of the year in Brazil. A hit DVD was next as well as the album, As Supernovas, a triple-platinum hit. More albums and hits have followed as well as sold-out shows at some of the biggest stadiums in South America. During her two decades in music, she has also recorded with some of the biggest names in Brazilian sounds including Gilberto Gil, Robert Carlos, Jorge Ben Jor, and many more. Her success has made her one of the best-paid acts in Brazil.

In New York, Sangalo will take the stage with guests Nelly Furtado, James Morrison, Seu Jorge, and more. The Brazilian diva will also be making a stop in Massachusetts as part of her three-show American concert series. Here is a list of concert dates and information.

• Aug. 28 – Miami, Fla., American Airlines Arena.

• Sept. 1 – Worcester, Mass., DCU Center.

• Sept. 4 – New York City, Madison Square Garden.

For those who can’t make one of thes shows, Sangalo will be broadcasting her rehearsals for the shows live on the Internet on Monday, Aug. 2. Click here for more information on watching the event.

Updating our earlier post on Kenia’s show in New York and her new album, Mosaic Brazil has learned the Brazilian artist will be performing several shows in Pennsylvania in the next few months.

Kenia’s blend of Brazilian sounds and jazz helped define the smooth jazz “Wave” sound over the last few decades, and her new album, Kenia Celebrates Dorival Caymmi, was released in April. Here is a full list of her upcoming shows.

• Aug. 3 – Pittsburgh, JazzLive at Katz Plaza.

• Aug 17 – Pittsburgh, Riverview Park/Observatory Hill.

• Aug. 15 – Pittsburgh, The Reservoir Of Jazz, Highland Park.

• Aug. 20 – Zelienople, Penn., JazZee at The Strand Theatre.

• Aug. 21 – Eagles Mere, Penn., Performing with Salsamba.

• Sept. 2 – Pittsburgh, Duo in the Park.

• Sept. 6 – Lancasster, Penn., Mark’s Place,

• Oct. 2 – Pittsburgh, Little E’s.

• Nov. 16 – Pittsburgh, Backstage Bar.

The artist’s reps say she will also be in Brazil in November. We will let you know if she adds shows outside Pennsylvania. For more information on her tours, visit Kenia’s official site. For more on Kenia or to purchase her albums, visit Connect Brazil.

Highly-respected Brazilian jazz singer Leny Andrade brings a bit of Bossa and Bolero for a series of five nights of shows Aug. 31 to Sept. 4 at the historic Birdland jazz club in New York City.

The show promises to take Brazilian jazz fans on a journey with sounds of Bossa Nova to her love of Boleros from her years living in Mexico, all with a Jazz flavor. The singer, who grew up in Brazil, has just released a new album, Alma Mia, focusing on her interest in boleros. The multi-talented vocalist is known as the Queen of Bossa Nova. Music reviewer Stephen Holden of The New York Times had this to say about Andrade:

“To describe Ms. Andrade as both the Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald of Bossa Nova only goes so far in evoking a performer whose voice seems to contain the body and soul of Brazil … like everything else she performs, it seems to well up from the center of the earth.”

Joining her onstage will be: Klaus Mueller on piano; Sergio Brandao on bass; and Helio Schiavo on drums.

The series will feature two shows each night. For more information on the show or tickets, visit the Birdland website.

Samba sounds will sizzle New York City on July 29 when the New York Samba Jazz Band performs at The Cooper Union.

The band features some of the best names in jazz: Duduka Da Fonseca on drums
; Jay Ashby on trombone; 
Klaus Mueller on piano
; and James Genus on bass. The band will perform two sets, at 7 and 9:30p.m.
in the Rose Auditorium. Thomas Conrad at JazzTimes said this of Da Fonseca:

“The universal appeal of Brazilian jazz is how measured, melodic emotion is energized from within by subtle, invincible rhythm. Da Fonseca may be the best in the world at motivating and sustaining  that special vital pulse.”

The Cooper Union is located at 41 Cooper Square on Third Ave. For more information or tickets, call 212-353-4135
or visit the Cooper Union website.

Fresh off a July 15 show in New York City, smooth jazz and Brazilian sensation Kenia has returned with a new album celebrating the music of Dorival Caymmi.

Her new album Kenia Celebrates Dorival Caymmi, released in April, is her first album since Simply Kenia in 2008 and The Ivan Lins Project, released in 2005. The album became somewhat of a family affair like Simply Kenia with her jazz trombonist and percussionist ex-husband Jay Ashby lending his talents to the disc and their 19-year-old son Lucas, a cellist, drummer, and percussionist, also playing percussion. Klaus Mueller provides piano and keyboards, and
 Leo Traversa plays bass.

The daughter of a Bank of Brazil treasurer, Kenia grew up in Copacabana, and first traveled to the U.S. in 1975 as an exchange student. She would eventually graduate from high school in Massachusetts. During Brazil’s military dictatorship (1964-85), she returned in 1980 to work as a bilingual secretary. Frustrated with the conditions in her homeland after experiencing democracy, she returned to New York City in 1980. She also had plans to start a music career. She soon met Ashby, who toured with Astrud Gilberto. Kenia and Ashby eventually became musical partners in L.A. in 1987 and later married. Her album Initial Thrill rode the smooth jazz wave and establisher her as one of the early favorites of the genre.

“That was the beginning of smooth jazz. She was one of the first artists. In fact, she kind of helped launch that whole KWAV [KWAV-FM, also known as The Wave] format,” Ashby told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2008. “She had her own voice. She had a unique timbre and texture to her voice, kind of an exotic energy, color to her voice. But I guess what always attracted me the most was her sense of rhythm. She really can swing.”

Another upcoming show has also been announced:

• Aug 17 – Pittsburgh, Riverview Park/Observatory Hill, 412-255-2391.

No word on more tour dates yet, but Mosaic Brazil will let you know as soon as we hear something. For more on Kenia or to purchase her albums, visit Connect Brazil.

Brazilian grooves mamixed with country twang make for the perfect sound for the New York-based band Nation Beat.

The band was profiled this week by NJ.com, and the band spoke about their unique take on Brazilian music. Group founder Scott Kettner says it took the band a while to find the right mix, but through the years has perfected a mix of American country and Brazilian foró, a Brazilian style of music built around an accordion, triangle, and zabumba bass drum, a Brazilian instrument in which the player stands up and strikes both sides of the drums using the hands. The band’s sound has led to some interesting gigs – including playing Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid. NJ.com offered the following on the band’s founding:

The idea for the band began to form when Kettner was studying with the esteemed jazz drummer Billy Hart. After both explored bossa nova and samba, Hart suggested the lesser-known rhythms of the Brazilian northeast, though he was not familiar with them. Kettner began investigating those styles, which were not even well-known in other parts of Brazil.

Kettner found some New York musicians who were similarly open-minded, and they brought in their various influences. While recording in the Brazilian city of Recife, band members met backup singer (Liliana) Araújo and invited her to join them in New York as lead singer, which she did in 2007.

In 2008, the band released “Legends of the Preacher,” which playfully brings together the rural sounds of two different hemispheres. The band adapted the Hank Williams weeper “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” giving it a peppy Pernambuco-inspired percussion track. The band also went further, adding funk and touches of Southern rock, and even collaborating with the Klezmatics on three songs.

Brazil, it seems, offers something for everyone and every taste. T listen to some of their sounds, watch them here at Mosaic TV.

Fresh off the success of her album Tide, São Paulo singer Luciana Souza has added more shows to her U.S. tour and may be coming to a city near you beginning this fall.

Tide has been well-received by critics and she has been on tour since January. The following is a list of her shows for the remainder of 2010 beginning this fall:

• Sept. 25 – Los Angeles, Calif., Royce Hall

• Oct. 23 – Kalamazoo, Mich., Dalton Recial Hall

• Oct. 25 – Austin, Texas, Hogg Memorial Auditorium

• Nov. 11 – Appleton, Wis., Lawrence Memorial Chapel

Click here for more on Souza and her recent Grammy nomination. For more on Luciana Souza and to purchase her albums, visit Connect Brazil.