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"Her glorious five-octave instrument is one of the wonders of jazz, lithe and startlingly beautiful" - All About Jazz

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Claudia Villela fell asleep as a child to the intoxicating sounds of samba drifting over from the school behind her grandmother's house—sounds that would shape one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz. JazzTimes has called her "a Brazilian-born genius with a blistering voice," and with good reason: Villela possesses a glorious five-octave instrument that is lithe and startlingly beautiful in every register. She sings mostly in Portuguese, interpreting lyrics with keen emotional insight and supple rhythmic command that honors her Brazilian heritage while pushing fearlessly into new musical territory.

Villela's remarkable improvisational abilities set her apart in the jazz world. A supremely inventive scat singer, she has developed a vivid vocabulary of sounds that can evoke everything from the hollow thump of a tabla drum to the muted trumpet of Miles Davis, the insistent twang of a berimbau to the distortion-laden guitar licks of Jimi Hendrix. The San Francisco Chronicle's Phil Elwood captured her unique artistry perfectly: "Villela doesn't just sing—she actually dances with her voice on top of Brazilian beats." After earning a scholarship to study with the legendary jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan at the Manhattan School of Music, Villela has called the Bay Area home since the mid-1980s, evolving into an expressive pianist, percussionist, and ingenious composer with an astonishing body of original material.

Her artistic credentials speak through her collaborations with jazz royalty: she has recorded and performed with saxophone legends Michael Brecker and Gary Meek, harmonica master Toots Thielemans, piano virtuoso Kenny Werner, and Brazilian guitar great Toninho Horta, among others. Her latest album, Cartas ao Vento, was listed as one of DownBeat's Best Albums in 2023, with the magazine praising her "unwavering commitment to the highest level of improvisation." Whether performing standards from the Brazilian songbook or her own original compositions, Villela brings a spirit of spontaneous invention that makes every performance a unique experience. As she describes her musical identity: "My singing is the sum of all the music I've heard, from Brazilian baroque to bossa nova to free jazz, the nostalgic and modern. It comes from all those memories."

A wine-tasting is included with adult tickets, and we invite you to bring a picnic. Wine will also be available for purchase by the bottle.

The concert begins at 6pm. We’re open from 5:00 to 8:00. Picnic tables are not available; feel free to bring a blanket to spread on the ground, or beach chairs. Please consider carpooling or bicycling, as parking is very limited.

Contact the host of Claudia Villela Experience!

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