Audiences at the Covey Center for the Arts were scheduled to experience the music of Rio de Janeiro on Monday, August 3. As part of the free Excellence in the Community concert series, Samba Rio was scheduled to perform an evening of classic Brazilian favorites, including bossa nova and samba rhythms, featuring several of Utah's jazz musicians.
The ensemble is led by drummer and bandleader Jay Lawrence, a percussionist who has performed with artists such as Sammy Davis, Jr. and Cher. Lawrence is also an author for the Drum Set Core Curriculum and has contributed to film scores for movies including Jumanji and The Sandlot.
Other musicians in the group include Curtis Woodbury on saxophone and violin, and bassist Matt Larson, who serves as an educator at Brigham Young University. The group also features pianist Steve Erickson, a former member of the Air Force military bands and a longtime faculty member at Snow College, and guitarist Kenji Aihara, who has opened for national acts like The Roots.
Vocals are provided by Suzy Lind-Nichols, who began her jazz training at age 11 under Caleb Chapman.
The performance was intended to showcase the elegance of Brazilian music while highlighting local Utah talent. Admission to the event was free through the Excellence in the Community series.
