Mario Bakuna

We are excited to welcome this incredible musician to The Hub! 30th of October. As usual we will be serving up our popular delicious  home cooked  African food for £10 a meal to include vegetarian and vegan options! 

Mario Bakuna and his latest project:

Following his first album Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia, Mario Bakuna's latest project, Brazilian Landscapes, presents fresh arrangements of works by renowned composers including Marcos Valle, Claudio Bertrami, Rique Pantoja, João Bosco, Arismar do Espírito Santo, and the forrozeiros Luiz Gonzaga and Dominguinhos.

This project is the synthesis of years of inspiration drawn from Bakuna's travels across Brazil, where he immersed himself in the country's rhythmic and harmonic diversity. From the arid landscapes of the Northeast - echoed in the driving choruses of Forró, Baião, and Xaxado - to the African heritage expressed in Ijexá, the popularity of Samba, and the refined elegance of Bossa Nova, Mario Bakuna and his musicians celebrate one of the richest musical territories on Earth.

Mario Bakuna is a Brazilian composer, arranger, vocalist, and guitarist, bringing over 25 years of musical artistry to audiences worldwide, currently based in London, UK. Well known for his deep exploration of traditional Brazilian rhythms, samba, jazz, and bossa nova, Bakuna captures the spirit of Brazilian swing, blending it with refined jazz colours in both his original compositions and fresh arrangements of works by iconic artists such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Dorival Caymmi, Paulo Moura, and João Donato.

Since moving to Europe to deepen his artistic research and expand his horizons, Bakuna has become a prominent figure in the UK's Brazilian jazz scene and a key reference for the fusion of Brazilian music and contemporary jazz. His captivating performances have taken him far beyond London, with tours across more than 20 European countries, as well as Brazil, Canada, Madagascar, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kaliningrad, and Taiwan. Over the years, he has built a distinctive international career, enchanting audiences in both intimate jazz clubs and on grand festival stages around the world. From performing for 3,000 people in Azerbaijan and 7,000 in Kaliningrad to achieving a record audience of 150,000 people at the Taichung Jazz Festival in Taiwan, Mario has reached milestones that reflect the universal appeal and emotional depth of his performances.

Driven by a passion for musical exploration, Bakuna has collaborated with artists including Jean Toussaint, Alain Jean-Marie, Liam Noble, Edmundo Carneiro, Guinga, Cacau Queiroz, Ricardo dos Santos, Daniel Jobim, Nelson Ayres, Robertinho Silva, and Filó Machado. His acclaimed albums Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia and Brazilian Landscapes showcase his ability to fuse traditional roots with a contemporary musical sensibility. With sold-out concerts, glowing reviews, and growing international recognition, Mario Bakuna continues to celebrate and expand the language of Brazilian jazz, bringing its rhythm, warmth, and sophistication to audiences around the globe.

Venues and festivals where Mario Bakuna has performed include

London (Royal Albert Hall, Ronnie Scott's, Pizza Express, Jazz Cafe, Crazy Coqs); Dublin (Arthur's Jazz club); Nottingham (Peggy's Sky Light); Canada (The Jazz Room, Yardbird Suite); Paris (La Cigale, Le Baiser Salé, Sunset Sunside, 360 Paris Music Factory); Mannheim (Ella and Louis); Augsburg (Jazzclub Augsburg); Paderborn (Paderborn Jazzclub); Copenhagen (Jazzhus Montmartre); Budapest (Opus Jazz Club); Fribourg (La Spirale); Madrid (Sala Clamores); Valência (Café Mercedez); Bologna (Sguetto Club); Verona (Esoteric Pro Audio); Vienna (Reigen Live); Bad Vöslau (Hob i Raum); Amsterdam (Teatro Munganga, Jazz Café Alto); Rotterdam (Grounds, Dizzy); Brussels (Le Baixu); Ronse (CC De Ververij); Porto (Hot Five Jazz Club); Sao Paulo (Blue Note-SP, JazzB)

Festivals: Azerbaijan (headliner at Baku Jazz Festival); Estonia (headliner at Juu Jääb Jazz Festival); UK (EFG London Jazz Festival, Petworth Festival, Henley Festival, Ealing Jazz Festival; Aberjazz Festival); Madagascar (Nosy Be Jazz Festival); Denmark (headliner at Jazz I Eltrik Gaarden Festival); Kazakhstan (Almaty Jazz Festival); Romania (Csíki Jazz Festival, Harmonia Cordis); Cyprus (headliner at Paradise Jazz Festival); Kaliningrad (Kaliningrad Jazz Festival); Egypt (headliner at Cairo Jazz Festival); Sweden (Bangen Jazz & Blues Festival); Taichung Jazz Festival (Taiwan).