"... ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED MUSICIANS TO COME OUT OF BRAZIL IN RECENT YEARS ..."
Claudio Roditi
Watch Brazilian Jazz Suite
What is the spirit of Brazilian Jazz?
Brazilian music embodies beauty, rhythm, dance, and joy. Jazz represents freedom and the eagerness to discover and create in the moment. It is within this integration that the true spirit of Brazilian jazz can be discovered.
A fresh Brazilian jazz trio, led by acclaimed drummer Sam Martinelli, praised by Claudio Roditi as "...one of the most talented musicians to emerge from Brazil in recent years...", strives to uncover the intersection of these two genres.
For this expedition, Sam invites two of the most seasoned jazz musicians known for their appreciation of good taste: bassist Peter Washington and pianist John DiMartino. And there could be no better place to capture this essence than the historic and inspirational Van Gelder Studios, renowned for birthing some of the most significant jazz albums of all time.
Featured Projects
Jazz & Samba Conversations is a live and online show in partnership with the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
In each episode, Sam invites a Jazz master to record a concert exploring the Brazilian jazz repertoire and conducts an interview to discuss the connections between jazz and Brazilian music. The content is later published online on YouTube and social media.
Past guests include Marcus McLaurine, Freddie Hendrix, Dave Stryker, and Hendrik Meurkens.
To watch other episodes, click here.
Sam Martinelli is joining forces with Ken Peplowski, lauded as "arguably the greatest living jazz clarinetist!" (Russell Davis BBC2), to bring forth a
new album, ‘Jazz Meets the Great Brazilian Songbook’
The album is a celebration and exploration of the classics from the Brazilian music repertoire, in a fusion of samba, bossa nova, and other Brazilian rhythms, and the spontaneous world of Jazz.
Featuring Ehud Asherie on piano, Martin Wind on bass, and Carina Calistro on vocals, the result is a reimagining of the Great Brazilian Songbook through the free-spirited lens of Jazz.
Sam Martinelli is a musician, producer, and educator based in New York City with a Master Degree in Jazz Studies from the City University of New York.
He has shared the stage and studio with renowned names in Brazilian Jazz, such as Ken Peplowski, Alcione, Hendrik Meurkens, Marcus McLaurine, Russell Malone, Kenia, Peter Washington, John DiMartino, and Helio Alves.
He was a member of Claudio Roditi’s group from 2017 to 2020, during which Roditi referred to him as “… one of the most talented musicians to come out of Brazil in recent years.”
His debut album as a leader, Crossing Paths, was recorded in 2018 featuring Claudio Roditi, Marcus McLaurine, and Tomoko Ohno. On this album, Martinelli “… provides strong originals, and delivers with grace, while his seasoned colleagues magnify his intentions and find deeper meaning in the notes and tones of the project.” (AllAboutJazz)
Samuel is a teaching artist at New Jersey Performing Arts Center and a specialist in the Brazilian idiom. He gives workshops and masterclasses at universities and other educational institutions, including Queens College, NJPac, and Litchfield Jazz Camp.
LISTEN
'JAZZ MEETS THE GREAT BRAZILIAN SONGBOOK'
'CROSSING PATHS'
with Claudio Roditi
