Jazzinho, which could be translated as "Sweet Little Jazz", is a luscious blend of Rare Groove rhythms and World Music arrangements, incorporating Portuguese and Brazilian traditional instruments, African percussions, R&B background vocals with soulful and organic Bossa melodies. It is mainly in Portuguese, but some of the lyrics are in English as well.
Led by virtuoso vocalist, songwriter and composer Guida de Palma, Jazzinho, records and performs a repertoire of original material in her idiosyncratic style. Guida is an exceptionally creative vocalist and a master at getting the audience involved. Gigs usually end with a high octane groove with the audience singing and dancing.
Their recent album - Atlas - was released on Adrian Gibson's label Freestyle and produced in London by Ed Motta. Alongside Jazzinho, the list of special guests features seventies legends like vocalist guitarist Hamish Stuart of Average White Band fame, analogue keyboard wizard Max Middleton from the Jeff Beck Band and Free Jazz flugelhorn veteran Harry Beckett. The first EP features a remix by Nicola Conte. This new opus, recorded at Fortress Studio exclusively on vintage equipment and instruments, mixes sounds from the Portuguese speaking world with 70s rare groove.
Jazzinho has performed on the world's most prestigious stages like Joe's Pub in New York, Underground in Chicago, Montreal Jazz Festival, as well as at The Jazz Café, the Barbican, Jazz Refreshed, the ICA, Cargo, in London, or La Paloma in Roma to name a few.
Live line up is:
- Guida de Palma: Vocalist and band leader.
- Simon Collam: Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Hammond Organ
- Marcello Andrade: Flutes, Guitar, Violin.
- Nic France: Drums.
- Matteus Nova: Bass.
- Anselmo Neto: Percussions, Bandolim.
Who is Guida de Palma?
Portuguese born, and classically trained Guida de Palma was only sixteen when bass legend and fallen angel Jaco Pastorius hopped on stage to join her during her very first gigs in Paris. Blessed by this almost divine collaboration, Guida went on singing her way onto various stages across Europe.
With her crew of Latin Funketeers, she played support to prestigious performers ranging from Cab Calloway, Defunkt and Gilberto Gil. At Juan-les-Pins' Jazz festival, things even got out of hand when the support band joined Hermeto Pascoal's gang in a musical stroll across the small French town.
Freshly arrived in the UK, and alongside prestigious names like Tina Turner, Terence Trent d'Arby, Lala Hathaway and Chaka Khan, Guida featured in the BEF's "Music of quality and distinction". She also joined Californian sax player Ronnie Laws for his European tour, culminating in Montreux Jazz Festival's rapturous closing night.
Also involved in production, Guida, a certified sound engineer, assisted legendary producer Juni Morrison of P Funk and Ohio Players fame in recording tracks with George Clinton. After working with Dodge City Production, DJ Dorfmeister, Dzihan & Kamien, DJ Disciple and Boyz from Brazil, Guida has evolved from a pure live performance mindset to one of club culture.
Besides her commitment to Jazzinho, Guida also sings in other bands like Da Lata. She is also the featured vocalist on numerous other albums e.g: Nathan Haynes, Kyoto Jazz Massive etc...
