Suncoast Jazz Festival Preview: Diego Figueiredo I Love Samba
Season 2, Episode 163, Oct 05, 02:14 PM
If you like Latin music, you will love Diego Figuerado’s new album, I Love Samba from Clearwater-based Arbor Records (where Ken Peplowski, also a featured performer at Suncoast Jazz Festival also records). His previous album, My World spent much of 2023 on the JazzWeek chart and was one of the top 30 jazz albums in U.S. airplay.
Diego is excited to return to St. Pete and Clearwater. “This is my third time at this wonderful festival and will perform some of my new album originals as well as performing with other musicians from all over the U.S. including Ken,” he says on the road from his West Coast tour. “ Ken and I have an album and we’ve toured together for 10 years.
Diego Figueiredo was born in Franca, Brazil, in 1980, and at the age of 4, he used to strike poses carrying his small guitar. At six, he got a mandolin, which was kept in a very special place in his house. Diego played many instruments before choosing the electric guitar when he was twelve, playing in theaters and local pubs, revealing the great art of improvising and harmonizing. At 15, he conquered theaters and nightclubs in many different Brazilian states, playing solo or with renowned musicians.
Besides being a guitar player, Diego is a producer, arranger, orchestrator, and multi-instrumentalist and his exceptional technique has twice earned him awards at the Montreux Jazz Festival as one of the greatest guitarists in the world. Diego has collaborated and performed with names like Gilberto Gil, João Bosco, Roberto Menescal, Toquinho, Janis Siegel, Stanley Jordan, Joao Donato, Larry Coryell, Ken Peplowski, Lewis Nash, John Clayton, Cyrille Aimée, Jeff Hamilton, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, Bill Cunliffe, Dick Hyman and many others.
With 28 CDs, 3 DVDs and a book, this newest album is his pride and joy. Diego says I Love Samba is an homage to early mentor Haroldo Garcia, a doctor who lived 40 miles away and taught him the Brazilian right hand technique and elements of jazz chord structures at age 13. “He was my hero, and the guy opened my mind to jazz, Brazilian music and classical music at the same time, because he mixed all that styles.” Another influence was the Bob Dylan of Brazil, the famous singer Belchior, who he accompanied on the road.
From walks in Manhattan to the beaches of Ipanema and inspirations from nature, the trio on I Love Samba mix African Soul, bossa nova, samba and other Brazilian musical styles. He’s joined on his album of original compositions by bassist Nislon Matta, drummer Duduka Da Fonseca, guitarist Romero Lubambo and a solo by flutist Itai Kriss. At the Suncoast Jazz Festival, Diego will perform with various musicians during the weekend, including Ken Peplowski.
The world and travel inspire Diego. “I composed the song Manhattan, the night before of the recording at 1 am when I was looking for a pizza place or some something to eat. I get a lot of inspirations from nature and the rhythm and distinctive drum patterns from northeastern Brazil. My goal when on stage or the studio is to create something spontaneous, and that’s what makes my concerts fun.”
In addition to the Suncoast Festival, Diego will perform this fall in New Orleans and Orlando as well as Holland America cruiseships. One of his favorite places to play is The Palladium at The Side Door in downtown St. Pete. “I love the audience and Paul Wilborn has been a huge supporter from the beginning.” Suncoast Jazz Festival Nov. 20-22 https://suncoastjazzfestival.com/
#diegofiguerado #nanettewiser #jazz #jazzguitarist #suncoastjazzfestival #NJnovdec2024
#radiostpete #brazilianmusic
Diego is excited to return to St. Pete and Clearwater. “This is my third time at this wonderful festival and will perform some of my new album originals as well as performing with other musicians from all over the U.S. including Ken,” he says on the road from his West Coast tour. “ Ken and I have an album and we’ve toured together for 10 years.
Diego Figueiredo was born in Franca, Brazil, in 1980, and at the age of 4, he used to strike poses carrying his small guitar. At six, he got a mandolin, which was kept in a very special place in his house. Diego played many instruments before choosing the electric guitar when he was twelve, playing in theaters and local pubs, revealing the great art of improvising and harmonizing. At 15, he conquered theaters and nightclubs in many different Brazilian states, playing solo or with renowned musicians.
Besides being a guitar player, Diego is a producer, arranger, orchestrator, and multi-instrumentalist and his exceptional technique has twice earned him awards at the Montreux Jazz Festival as one of the greatest guitarists in the world. Diego has collaborated and performed with names like Gilberto Gil, João Bosco, Roberto Menescal, Toquinho, Janis Siegel, Stanley Jordan, Joao Donato, Larry Coryell, Ken Peplowski, Lewis Nash, John Clayton, Cyrille Aimée, Jeff Hamilton, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, Bill Cunliffe, Dick Hyman and many others.
With 28 CDs, 3 DVDs and a book, this newest album is his pride and joy. Diego says I Love Samba is an homage to early mentor Haroldo Garcia, a doctor who lived 40 miles away and taught him the Brazilian right hand technique and elements of jazz chord structures at age 13. “He was my hero, and the guy opened my mind to jazz, Brazilian music and classical music at the same time, because he mixed all that styles.” Another influence was the Bob Dylan of Brazil, the famous singer Belchior, who he accompanied on the road.
From walks in Manhattan to the beaches of Ipanema and inspirations from nature, the trio on I Love Samba mix African Soul, bossa nova, samba and other Brazilian musical styles. He’s joined on his album of original compositions by bassist Nislon Matta, drummer Duduka Da Fonseca, guitarist Romero Lubambo and a solo by flutist Itai Kriss. At the Suncoast Jazz Festival, Diego will perform with various musicians during the weekend, including Ken Peplowski.
The world and travel inspire Diego. “I composed the song Manhattan, the night before of the recording at 1 am when I was looking for a pizza place or some something to eat. I get a lot of inspirations from nature and the rhythm and distinctive drum patterns from northeastern Brazil. My goal when on stage or the studio is to create something spontaneous, and that’s what makes my concerts fun.”
In addition to the Suncoast Festival, Diego will perform this fall in New Orleans and Orlando as well as Holland America cruiseships. One of his favorite places to play is The Palladium at The Side Door in downtown St. Pete. “I love the audience and Paul Wilborn has been a huge supporter from the beginning.” Suncoast Jazz Festival Nov. 20-22 https://suncoastjazzfestival.com/
#diegofiguerado #nanettewiser #jazz #jazzguitarist #suncoastjazzfestival #NJnovdec2024
#radiostpete #brazilianmusic