Jazz Series! Luciana Souza Trio featuring Romero Lubambo and Cyro Baptista | Press Releases

8 p.m., Saturday, October 1, 2011
Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

Image: Luciano Souza Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts' 2011-2012 Jazz Series begins at 8 p.m., Saturday, October 1, 2011 , with the Luciana Souza Trio featuring Romero Lubambo and Cyro Baptista . Grammy winner Luciana Souza is one of jazz's leading singers and interpreters. She brings with her a pair of world-class musicians, guitarist Romero Lubambo and percussionist Cyro Baptista. Tickets are $40, $35, and $30.

Luciana Souza, who hails from São Paulo, Brazil, grew up in a family of Bossa Nova innovators. Her work as a performer transcends traditional boundaries, offering solid roots in jazz, sophisticated lineage in world music, and an enlightened approach to classical repertoire and new music. As a leader, Luciana Souza has eight acclaimed releases including her four Grammy nominated records "Brazilian Duos," 2002, "North and South," 2003, and "Duos II," 2005, and "Tide," 2009. She appears as a guest vocalist on the Grammy-winning "River: The Joni Letters," the 2007 album by Herbie Hancock which won Best Contemporary Jazz Album and Album of the Year awards.

Her debut recording for Universal/Verve (produced by her husband, Larry Klein), "The New Bossa Nova, " (2007) was met with critical acclaim (Billboard Latin Jazz Album of the Year) and on "Tide," Luciana "continued her captivating journey as a uniquely talented vocalist who organically crosses genre borders. Her music soulfully reflects, wistfully regrets, romantically woos, joyfully celebrates..."(Billboard).

Ms. Souza began her recording career at age three with a radio commercial, and recorded more than 200 jingles and soundtracks, becoming a first-call studio veteran at age 16. She spent four years on faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she received a Bachelor's in Jazz Composition. Ms. Souza earned a Master's degree in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory of Music and taught for four years at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, in New York City.

Ms. Souza has performed and recorded with greats like Paul Simon, Bobby McFerrin, Maria Schneider, Danilo Perez, and many others. Her longstanding duo work with Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo has earned her accolades across the globe. Her complete discography contains more than 50 records as a side singer. Luciana Souza's singing has been called "transcendental, "perfect, " and of "unparalleled beauty." Entertainment Weekly said, "Her voice traces a landscape of emotion that knows no boundaries."

Luciana Souza has been a prominent soloist in two important works by composer Osvaldo Golijov - "La Pasion According to St. Mark," and "Oceana." She has performed with the Bach Akademie Stuttgart, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Other orchestral appearances include de Falla's "El Amor Brujo" with the New York Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Her work in chamber music includes a fruitful collaboration with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

In 2005, Luciana was awarded Female Jazz Singer of the Year, by the Jazz Journalists Association. From 2005 to 2010, Luciana was the Jazz Artist in Residence with the prestigious San Francisco Performances. Ms. Souza will be a featured soloist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra on the premiere of a new piece by young composer Derek Bermel in 2011.

Tickets are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at fairfield.edu/quick .

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Fairfield University at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Entrance to the Quick Center is through the Barlow Road gate at 200 Barlow Road. Free, secure parking is available. Access for people with disabilities is available throughout the Quick Center for audience members and performers. Hearing amplification devices are available upon request at the Box Office. Fairfield University is located off exit 22 of Interstate-95. For further information and directions, call (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-278-7396, or visit fairfield.edu/quick .