Claudia Villela-Vitor Gonçalves Duo

“A Brazilian-born genius with a blistering voice" (JazzTimes), Claudia Villela has developed a reputation as a singularly unique singer, pianist and composer, lending her five-octave voice to work with jazz luminaries including Kenny Werner, Michael Brecker and Toots Thielemans. Inspired to sing from hearing the intoxicating sounds emanating from the samba school behind her grandmother’s house in Rio de Janeiro, Villela began singing professionally as a teen and eventually moved to the Bay Area. She later attended New York’s Manhattan School of Music where she studied with the legendary Sheila Jordan and then returned to California “on a mission to create fresh, original music born of her Brazilian upbringing and passion for jazz.” Blending Brazilian samba with jazz, blues, and songs from around the globe, “Villela doesn't just sing – she actually dances with her voice on top of Brazilian beats” (San Francisco Chronicle critic Phil Elwood). Villela has released seven albums, including her latest Cartas ao Vento (September 2023), which marked the first time she made a recording in Brazil and which was called “a gem of an album by a vocalist whose soul clearly has always been in Rio. Last heard at Outpost nearly 10 years ago now with longtime collaborator, accordionist and pianist Vitor Gonçalves, the duo returns to perform music from the latest release and more.  A pianist, accordionist, composer and arranger, Gonçalves also hails from Rio de Janeiro, where he was much in demand, playing with such icons as Hermeto Pascoal, Maria Bethânia, and many others. He relocated to New York in 2012 and has since garnered much acclaim, performing frequently at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Jazz Standard, and the Jazz Gallery collaborating with many luminaries on the New York scene including Anat Cohen, Vinícius Cantuária, Kate McGarry, and John Zorn. 

Claudia Villela-Vitor Gonçalves Duo will also perform on Friday, September 12 at 7pm at Unit “B” by Chocolate Maven, Santa Fe