Name: Helio Alves Samba Jazz Project
Start: 2025-01-19T16:00:00-07:00
Location: 311 E Congress St, Tucson, AZ 85701-1811, United States

Member PreSale - August 17th ~ 10am
Public OnSale - August 23rd ~ 10am
HELIO ALVES- Piano
A native of São Paulo, Brazil, pianist Helio Alves combines the rhythmic complexity of modern Brazilian music with the edgy energy of contemporary jazz. A resident of NYC since the ’90s, Alves has received high praise as an in-demand sideman with the likes of Joe Henderson, Yo-Yo Ma, Sadao Watanabe, Slide Hampton, Airto Moreira & Flora Purim, Paquito D’Rivera, Joyce, and Rosa Passos to name but a few.
Helio has also released four albums under his own name: “Trios” (1998), “Portrait in Black & White” (2004), “It’s Clear” (2009) and most recently,”Musica” featuring Antonio Sanchez, Reuben Rogers, Claudio Roditi and Romero Lubambo. Check out “Brazilian Jazz Piano”, my piano course. And my new album out now, “At Play”, with the fantastic musicians Romero Lubambo, Reuben Rogers and Edu Ribeiro. Go to: www.openstudiojazz.com Also check out”Águas Brasileiras”, my new album with The Brazilian Trio (with Nilson Matta and Duduka Da Fonseca), out now on Zoho Music. Go to: www.braziliantriomusic.net
CHICO PINHEIRO- Guitar
An exceptional guitarist with a beautiful sound and great fluidity, a unique composer that blends Brazilian Music, Classical Music, and Jazz, Chico’s been nominated twice for the American Grammy Awards (in 2019 & 2020).
Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, he started playing the guitar when he was 6. At 14, he started working as a studio session guitarist and soon began to be called to collaborate with a wide range of artists in his hometown, then in Brazil, then abroad. In 2002 Chico put together a band of his own and started recording as a leader. His first album, ‘Meia Noite Meio Dia’ (Sony Music/ 2003), was released in 2003 with great reviews at all the most important newspapers and music magazines in Brazil and abroad and was included in the ‘Top 10 Brazilian albums of the year’ in the major newspapers of Brazil: ‘O Estado de São Paulo,’ ‘A Folha de São Paulo’ and ‘O Globo.’ This well-received debut included special guest vocalists Lenine, Ed Motta, Chico César, and Maria Rita.
His second release, ‘Chico Pinheiro’ (Biscoito Fino/ 2005), enjoyed great critical and audience acclaim, once more being included in the ‘Top 10 Brazilian albums of the year’ by newspapers’ O Estado,’ ‘O Globo’ and ‘Folha de São Paulo.’
The third album, NOVA, was released in Dec/ 2007 in collaboration with the American guitarist and composer Anthony Wilson. It was, again, celebrated by critics and the audience.
His fourth album, There’s a Storm Inside (CT Music Japan/ Sunnyside Records, NY, 2010), was released in 35 countries. It included guests such as Dianne Reeves and Bob Mintzer. It was featured on the downbeat, Revista Veja, O Estado de São Paulo, Folha de São Paulo, Jornal O GLOBO, and Revista Rolling Stone among the ‘best albums of the year.’ This record also won prizes as Best Brazilian Jazz Álbum of the year and Best Latin Jazz Composition of 2010 with ‘Mamulengo’ in the Latin Jazz Corner Association, USA. Chico also won as Best Latin Jazz Guitarist in the same association.
In 2012 he released the CD’ TRIZ’ in partnership with the pianist and composer André Mehmari and singer and composer Sergio Santos.
Meanwhile, in the Downbeat Magazine Annual Critics Poll, Chico has been listed (three times) as a “Rising Star – Guitar.”
In 2017 Chico released “Varanda,” a unique collaboration project which all major papers and magazines in Brazil and abroad included as ‘best of the year’ again. His composition “Varanda” is performed by Vince Mendoza and the WDR Big Band on the Project “Focus on Brazil”, along with Milton Nascimento, Edu Lobo, Gilberto Gil, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Villa Lobos.
Today Chico is considered a leading figure in – and outside the Brazilian music scene, who has distinguished himself as a guitarist, composer, and arranger. Alongside with his main projects as leader, he also has collaborated with artists such as Placido Domingo, Kathleen Battle, Brad Mehldau, Dave Grusin, Kenny Werner, Dianne Reeves, Kurt Elling, Danilo Pérez, Nnenna Freelon, Bob Mintzer, Herbie Hancock, Brian Blade (IJD), Ron Carter, Chris Potter, John Patitucci, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, The Israel Chamber Orchestra, The Bob Mintzer Big Band, The Paris Jazz Big Band, The Swiss Jazz Orchestra, The Danish Radio Big Band, The Seasons Guitar Quartet with Anthony Wilson, Julian Lage & Steve Cardenas, Esperanza Spalding, Joyce, Ivan Lins, Rosa Passos, Dori Caymmi, Danilo Caymmi, João Donato, Johnny Alf, Chico César, Ed Motta, César Camargo Mariano, Elza Soares, Monarco, Mark Turner, Tom Scott, Joe Lovano, Luciana Souza, Terri Lyne Carrington, Eddie Gomez, Gary Novak, Lee Ritenour, Abraham Laboriel, Paulinho da Costa, Sammy Figueroa, Cachaíto Lopez (Buena Vista Social Club), Roberto Fonseca, Ari Hoenig, Claudio Roditi, Duduka da Fonseca, Peter Erskine, Giovani Hidalgo, amongst others.
ALEX KAUTZ- Drums
Renowned for his musicality, groove, and knowledge of various genres, Alex Kautz stands out as a distinguished percussionist, educator, and composer. With an unwavering passion for jazz and world music, he has crafted a captivating and distinct musical voice and unique artistic expression.
Alex has been an important part of the NY competitive music scene for the last decade and has played and/or recorded with some of the top artists in the industry today including Tim Ries, Magos Herrera, Nilson Matta, Chico Pinheiro, Steve Willson, Lenny Andrade, Fabio Gouvea, Helio Alves, Victor Prieto and Lionel Loueke among others.
In addition to his work with various artists, Alex has taken the lead in various projects where he combines the sounds of Brazilian music fused with jazz. Notably, he played a vital role as a co-founder of the collective ensemble known as “Trio Afora” and he is releasing his new album, “Where We Begin,” with Sunnyside Records in Spring 2024.
A Magna Cum Laude graduate from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Alex received the “Best Achievement merit Scholarship” while attending the prestigious institution in pursuit of a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. He later received a full scholarship award from Mexico’s National Fund for Culture and Arts (FONCA) to study a Masters of Arts Degree in Aaron Copland School of Music in New York.
As an active educator since 2001, Alex has been an important part of the artistic community in different countries including USA, Mexico, India, and Brazil teaching private lessons as well as master classes. In addition he has been a guest professor in Souza Lima Conservatory and College of Music in Sao Paulo, Brazil, JAZZUV School of Music in Veracruz Mexico and in Swarnabhomi School of Music in India and he is currently part of the faculty at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music and Mannes Concervatory in NYC.