Brazilian Jazz and Big Band Workshop

Join internationally acclaimed pianist and composer Dan Costa for an engaging exploration of Brazilian music and its connections with jazz.

Dan will take participants on a musical journey through styles including modinha, samba, maracatu, chorinho, bossa nova and baião, exploring where these genres come from, the social and cultural contexts in which they developed, and the ways they have influenced jazz and his own music.

Using recordings, video, stories and live piano demonstrations, Dan will bring these musical styles to life, introducing participants to some of the key musicians, instruments, rhythms and musical ideas behind them.

Working alongside drummer Carl Woodward and band director Bill Martin, Dan will give musicians the opportunity to explore and perform some of his own music in a big band setting. Participants will discover how Brazilian musical traditions can be brought into a jazz context and experience these ideas through playing, listening and collaboration.

Dan Costa has delivered masterclasses at major institutions around the world, including the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Berklee College of Music and universities across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. His work has also been featured by international media including the BBC, Rolling Stone, DownBeat and Sky News.

A unique opportunity to learn, listen and play with an internationally acclaimed artist—and to discover rich Brazilian musical connections.

This workshop is part of the Christchurch Big Band Jazz Festival. Sign up to the festival newsletter and follow our socials for more information on all Festival events, free and ticketed. As a charitable, community-run festival, donations from music lovers like you help us keep the majority of performances free for everyone to enjoy. If you’d like to support the festival, please consider making a contribution.