GILBERTO MAKES FIRST BOWL APPEARANCE IN NEARLY 40 YEARS

GRAMMY NOMINATED BRAZILIAN VOCALIST LUCIANA SOUZA MAKES DEBUT

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, AT 8 PM
KKJZ'S JAZZ AT THE BOWL

Brazilian rhythms and inimitable vocals fill the night air as João Gilberto, the Boss of Bossa Nova, returns to the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, July 23, at 8 p.m., part of KKJZ's Jazz at the Bowl concert series. Influenced by American music, Gilberto combines the rhythms and melodies of Brazilian samba with jazz, along with his soft vocals in tempo to his guitar. Gilberto developed the gentle Bossa Nova style in the late 1950's but became an international sensation in 1963 with his ubiquitous hit "The Girl From Ipanema," sung by his then-wife Astrud.

Opening the evening's performance is fellow Brazilian and Grammy nominated artist Luciana Souza whose musical family has always been immersed in the Bossa Nova tradition. Making her Hollywood Bowl debut, the critically acclaimed Souza brings her vivacious vocals and breathtaking allure to our stage.

João Gilberto: Boss of Boss Nova is the third concert of KKJZ's Jazz at the Bowl series, which has already featured programs with the legendary Etta James and Yolanda Adams. The eight concert series, in partnership with KKJZ Radio (88.1 FM), continues with The Movie Music of Spike Lee and Terence Blanchard on July 30; Wayne Shorter: Life and Music on August 6; To Ella With Love on August 13; The Edge of Jazz on August 20; and the Art of Swing on August 27.

Guitarist JOÃO GILBERTO's romantic, whispering vocals and distinctive laid-back guitar have been the trademark of bossa nova since the style crystallized in the late '50s in Brazil with the words and music of Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. It wasn't until 1962 that Gilberto's international stardom was launched with his appearance on the Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd album Jazz Samba, and a year later confirmed with the 1963 classic Getz/Gilberto and the hit song sung by his then-wife Astrud Gilberto, "The Girl From Ipanema." João Gilberto last performed at the Hollywood Bowl in 1964.

Hailing from Sao Paulo, Brazil, vocalist and composer LUCIANA SOUZA grew up in a household of bossa nova innovators who performed and wrote for stars such as João Gilberto and Elis Regina. Studying in Brazil and later at Berklee College of Music, she received a Bachelors in Jazz Composition. She gained critical acclaim with two albums for Sunnyside, and her latest recording "Brazilian Duos" received a 2003 Grammy nomination. She performs with guitarist Romero Lubambo. Luciana Souza makes her Hollywood Bowl debut.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

Wednesday, July 23, 8:00 p.m.

KKJZ'S JAZZ AT THE BOWL

HOLLYWOOD BOWL (2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood)

JOÃO GILBERTO: BOSS OF BOSSA NOVA

JOÃO GILBERTO

LUCIANA SOUZA

Tickets ($1 - $40) are on sale now at the Hollywood Bowl box office, by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations), or online at hollywoodbowl.com. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850.2050 for further details. For general information or to request a brochure,
call 323.850.2000.

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