Bossa Nova - Tribute to João Gilberto by Mario Bakuna

Following sold-out performances across the UK, Portugal, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, Mario Bakuna is delighted to bring this special concert to The Blakehay Theatre for the very first time.

João Gilberto, the great pioneer and father of Bossa Nova in Brazil in the late fifties, is the focus of this special concert performed by Mario Bakuna on guitar and vocals. Featuring reinterpretations alongside Bakuna’s own compositions, the performance invites the audience into the traditional world of samba, the subtle syncopation of João’s plucked-chord style, and the colours of contemporary jazz. With expressive vocals and his signature acoustic guitar, Bakuna brings these timeless pieces to life with warmth, swing, and a modern sensibility. It’s a heartfelt celebration of one of the greatest Brazilian musicians of all time!

Mario Bakuna is a Brazilian composer, arranger, vocalist, and guitarist with over 20 years of professional experience, currently based in London, UK. Well known for his deep exploration of traditional Brazilian rhythms, samba, jazz, and bossa nova, Mario focuses on both original compositions and fresh arrangements of works by iconic artists like Tom Jobim, Dorival Caymmi, Paulo Moura, and João Donato. In recent years, he has also dedicated his research and performance to reinterpreting Samba Jazz, a genre that emerged in 1950s Rio de Janeiro through the work of artists like Luiz Eça, Tamba Trio, and Edson Machado. This style blends Brazilian standards with sophisticated harmonies influenced by the post–bossa nova movement.

Driven by a passion for musical exploration, Mario moved to Europe to deepen his research and expand his artistic horizons. Since settling in London, he has collaborated with artists such as Jean Toussaint, Liam Noble, Ricardo dos Santos, Edmundo Carneiro, Cacau Queiroz, Alain Jean-Marie, Dudu Penz, and Filó Machado. He has since become a prominent figure and key reference in the UK’s Brazilian jazz scene, performing extensively across Europe and beyond at renowned venues and international festivals. 

His albums Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia and Brazilian Landscapes highlight his ability to fuse traditional roots with a contemporary musical sensibility. With sold-out concerts and critical acclaim, these projects have toured across 20 European countries, as well as Brazil, Canada, Madagascar, Egypt, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan—captivating audiences around the world.

“Mario Bakuna, a sparkling guitarist, plays with palpable feeling - his virtuosic fluency on the fretboard is controlled and flourishes are perfectly placed. His voice has a texture like heavy cloth”. (Songlines Magazine)

“Mario Bakuna, a man who exudes music. (…) ‘vocals’ doesn’t begin to do him justice: his expressive range and the precision with which he was able to deploy it was truly the band’s fifth instrument.  (…) And he did this while playing guitar with precision and finesse. (…) his solos were a further source of amazement, his technique somewhere between finger-picking style and classical. His solo introduction to a Baden Powell number made a hash of any attempt at a definition.” (The Whitman Review, Wakefield Jazz)

Video1: https://youtu.be/P5YmfymgVSo?si=d6jnED2VEQoSFTAS

Video2: https://youtu.be/RkBc2BjPg_o?si=ihiY1ggbDZruHNRy

Video3: https://youtu.be/qagjggKebiw?si=0DHwYetcCmYCYUP6

Website- https://www.mariobakuna.com

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/MarioBakunaMusician

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/mariobakuna

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/c/mariobakuna