Mario Bakuna - Tribute to João Gilberto - EFG London Jazz Festival

A tribute concert by the Mario Bakuna Band at the Bull's Head in Chiswick, part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, honouring the Brazilian musician João Gilberto.

This concert pays tribute to João Gilberto, the Brazilian musician regarded as a pioneer and father of bossa nova, which took shape in Brazil in the late 1950s. Mario Bakuna performs on guitar and vocals, leading the band. The evening is a homage to Gilberto rather than an appearance by the artist being honoured.

The set combines reinterpretations of existing material with Mario Bakuna's own compositions. Traditional samba elements sit alongside syncopated rhythms built on plucked guitar chords, and the music also draws on more contemporary jazz. The project has previously performed in the United Kingdom, Portugal, France and the Netherlands, and this London date brings that work to the festival.

The Bull's Head is a concert venue at 15 Strand-on-the-Green in Chiswick, west London. The evening will appeal to listeners who want to celebrate Gilberto's influence on Brazilian music, and to those interested in how bossa nova and samba inform contemporary jazz.