Witkowski's playing is consistently thrilling, and her musical imagination....

São Paulo-based guitarist/vocalist Filó Machado joins NYC pianist/vocalist

Deanna Witkowski in US tour from Oct 10-21

Witkowski's playing is consistently thrilling, and her musical imagination
seems boundless. - All Music Guide

Deanna plays as if she were writing a letter to someone who does not exist. Her piano announces all the autumns yet to come. 
- Guinga, Rio-based guitarist/composer/vocalist

Machado’s ideas reach beyond one continent…he has cited Joyce and Flora Purim as influences, but he also has listened to Jon Hendricks and his giddy torrent of syllables derive from jazz. –Downbeat

Deanna Witkowski with João Paulo Barbosa, tenor and soprano sax
Sidiel Vieira, bass
Fabio Faustino, drums
and special Filó Machado, guitarra e voice.

São Paulo-based guitarist/composer/vocalist Filó Machado and New York-based pianist/composer/vocalist Deanna Witkowski join forces from October 10-21 with appearances in Syracuse, Rochester, Cleveland, Boston, and New York. Ranging from Machado’s MPB (Brazilian popular music) compositions to Witkowski’s fusions of Latin, Brazilian, jazz, and sacred music, this rare stateside tour provides an opportunity to witness the chemistry of this cross-cultural duo in an intimate setting.

Two acclaimed composer/performer/bandleaders from different continents, Witkowski and Machado originally met in 2006, when Witkowski visited Brazil for the first time. A longtime fan of Machado’s work, Witkowski heard Machado perform on her first night in São Paulo. A love of dense harmonies, unrelenting rhythmic grooves, and the use of the voice as an instrument led the two to begin playing together last November, when Machado was in New York to perform at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Both musicians have performed with each other’s respective bands: in June, Witkowski performed in São Paulo in Machado’s quartet; in March, Machado performed in New York in Witkowski’s quartet. Videos of their recent collaborations are available at http://deannajazz.com/.

Filó Machado
One of the great voices of Brazilian MPB (Brazilian popular music) today, vocalist/composer/guitarist/arranger/producer FIló Machado is known internationally for his infectious blend of virtuosity, soulfulness, and groove. Throughout his forty-year career, Machado has worked with many illustrious musicians, including Michel Legrand, Leny Andrade, and  Ivan Lins. His 2009 release, Ubida, was produced by Nilson Matta and includes appearances by Kenny Barron, César Camargo Mariano, Romero Lubambo, and Paulo Braga. In November 2009, Machado shared a double-bill with Brazilian vocalist Gal Costa at Toronto’s Massey Hall. In 2001 he made his Carnegie Hall debut in the program, “40 Years of Bossa Nova,” with Costa, Dori Caymmi, Toots Thielemans, Jane Monheit, and others. A well-known composer, Machado composed and recorded the MPB hit “Jogral” with Djavan. http://filomachado.com.br

Deanna Witkowski
Winner of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 2002 and a former guest on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz, pianist/composer/vocalist Deanna Witkowski has been heralded for her genre-defying work which melds the diverse worlds of jazz, Latin, Brazilian, and sacred music. Her 2009 recording, From This Place, marries ancient and modern sacred texts with the richness of jazz and features Donny McCaslin, John Patitucci, and Kate McGarry. An active member on the New York Brazilian jazz scene, Witkowski is a member of Vanderlei Pereira’s Blindfold Test and has performed with Hendrik Meurkens and Fabiana Masili. Fluent in Portuguese, she has toured three times in Brazil, most recently appearing at Modern Sound in Rio and at the Recife Jazz Festival. Since 2005, she has been the pianist in the BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra and also appears on recent releases with the Schumacher/Sanford Sound Assembly and Joseph C. Phillips’ large ensemble, Numinous. http://deannajazz.com

October itinerary:

Oct 10: New York, NY: All Nite Soul at Saint Peter’s Church
Oct 14: Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University (daytime clinic)
Oct 14: Syracuse, NY: First Presbyterian Church United (evening concert)
Oct 15: Rochester, NY: Tapas 177 Lounge
Oct 17: Cleveland, OH: Nighttown
Oct 19: Boston, MA: Boston Arts Academy (daytime clinic)
Oct 20: Boston, MA: Berklee School of Music (daytime clinic)
Oct 20: Boston, MA: Ryles Jazz Club (w/guests Felipe Salles and Oscar Stagnaro)
Oct 21: New York, NY: The Bar Next Door.

Additional solo dates for Deanna Witkowski:
Oct 15: Rochester, NY: Roberts Wesleyan College (improvisations on Chopin)
Oct 17: Cleveland, OH: Forest Hill Presbyterian Church (sacred jazz in worship service)
Oct 19: Boston, MA: Boston College (solo sacred jazz concert)

Venue details are available at http://deannajazz.com/calendar.php

Hi-res press photos of Ms. Witkowski are available at deannajazz.com/quotes.shtml

For hi-res photos of Mr. Machado, contact deannawit@earthlink.net).

Review copies of CDs are available on request.