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Brazilian roots, jazz chops, and pure energy come together this Friday at the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival
The TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival is in full swing, lighting up the city with world-class talent through to June 22. And on Friday, June 20 at 6 p.m., the Cube stage in Old Market Square will pulse with the vibrant sounds of the Samba Jazz Project—a dynamic ensemble that blends the richness of Brazilian rhythms with jazz improvisation.
Audience members can expect a joyful explosion of bossa nova, samba, and jazz, performed by a group of musicians whose connection is as tight as their arrangements. Inspired by legends like Johnny Alf, the Zimbo Trio, and César Camargo Mariano, the band celebrates a wave of Brazilian music that crossed oceans in the 1960s and continues to inspire today.
From jam sessions to Winnipeg stages
Guitarist Emmanuel Bach, pianist Diego Costa, and saxophonist Paul Balcain stopped by the Classic 107 studio to talk about the project, which started with a shared love of Brazilian music and jazz.
“This actually started back when I was living in Brandon,” said Bach. “I used to play a lot with Diego... we started having this idea that, oh, you know, I want to put together a Brazilian music group.”
Costa recalled their first meeting: “My phone got discharged. I didn’t know how to get [to where I was staying], and I just met Diego and he said, ‘Oh, you can crash at my place.’ So that’s how I met him, and then we started playing a lot. And right away, we had a lot of music in common.”
The Samba Jazz Project took root in those early jam sessions—and later grew into a fully-fledged band when Bach invited Diego and others to join him for his fourth-year recital at Brandon University.
More than just bossa nova
While most Canadians associate Brazilian music with bossa nova classics like The Girl from Ipanema, the Samba Jazz Project digs deeper, showcasing complex harmonies and driving rhythms.
“This is not gringo bossa nova,” said Balcain. “The stuff that was popularized is what I knew until I met [Emmanuel and Diego]. And then it was, wow—there’s a whole world.”
Costa added: “We came to Canada to study jazz. We like playing jazz, but we always talk about this—when we’re playing Brazilian things, we try to incorporate jazz elements, the things that we learn here. And that’s what samba jazz is.”
A powerful band with deep roots
The full band features:
Horn section
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Paul Balcain – tenor saxophone
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Ken Gold – alto saxophone
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John Challoner – trumpet
Rhythm section
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Emmanuel Bach – guitar
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Diego Costa – piano
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Gilles Fournier – bass
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Fabio Ragnelli – drums
Bach noted that Ragnelli brings something special to the table: “When we talk about samba, people think about the carnival in Rio de Janeiro... and that’s what the drummer Fabio Ragnelli is going to try to bring—like the whole drumming section from the carnival to one piece of drum kit.”
The roots of samba jazz
The musicians also touched on the rich history behind their sound. Costa explained: “The musicians, they were really tired of the old samba... so bossa nova came when musicians wanted to add more harmony into that traditional samba.”
Bach dove into the story of Johnny Alf, calling him “actually, in my opinion, one of the creators of this music,” despite being left out of the Carnegie Hall bossa nova concert in the ’60s. “He was a great jazz piano player, but... at that time, maybe he didn’t have the looks... He was Black, homosexual, and his mom was a house cleaner. He didn’t get the same exposure as other people.”
Costa also gave props to the Zimbo Trio, describing them as Brazil’s answer to the Bill Evans Trio or Oscar Peterson: “Newton Godoy, the pianist... he was classically trained... his left hand is amazing.”
Complex tunes and good vibes
With roots this deep and arrangements this intricate, it’s no surprise that the music demands a lot from the performers.
“These tunes are extremely... they’re challenging,” said Balcain. “You just kind of have to close your eyes and go with it.”
Among the songs audiences can expect are Batida Diferente and Estúdio Longo—short in form but bursting with improvisational possibility.
Bach summed it up: “They can expect a high energy concert with a lot of improvisation... nice to listen [to], but also to dance.”
Don’t miss it
The Samba Jazz Project performs Friday, June 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the Cube in Old Market Square as part of the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival. Whether you’re a lifelong lover of Brazilian jazz or hearing it for the first time, expect irresistible grooves, rich harmonies, and a performance full of heart.
For details, visit jazzwinnipeg.com
