The Brazilian Guitar of Mario Bakuna - Live @Hampstead Jazz club

Join the very popular MARIO BAKUNA, back at The Hampstead Jazz Club for a poetic celebration of Brazil’s musical heritage through guitar, voice, and rhythm — from bossa nova to samba jazz.

In this intimate solo concert for acoustic guitar and voice, Mario Bakuna invites the audience into the heart of the Brazilian guitar tradition — a language shaped by rhythm, subtlety, and deep emotional resonance. Drawing inspiration from masters such as João Gilberto and Baden Powell, Bakuna explores the unique role of the guitar in Brazilian music, at once harmonic, rhythmic, and profoundly expressive. João Gilberto’s plucked-chord bossa nova style, with its delicate syncopation and understated elegance, meets Baden Powell’s virtuosic fusion of samba, Afro-Brazilian rhythms, and jazz sophistication, creating a rich tapestry of influences that have shaped Bakuna’s musical identity.

Blending original compositions with fresh, personal arrangements of gems from bossa nova, Brazilian jazz, and samba jazz, The Brazilian Guitar of Mario Bakuna explores the balance between tradition and innovation. With expressive vocals and his signature acoustic guitar, Bakuna reimagines classic repertoire and presents new works infused with warmth, refined swing, nuanced phrasing, an unmistakable sense of groove, and a modern sensibility.

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, Mario 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 Tom Jobim, Dorival Caymmi, Paulo Moura, and João Donato.

Since moving to Europe to deepen his artistic research and expand his horizons, Mario has become a prominent figure in the UK’s Brazilian jazz scene — 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, Mario 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.