Diego Figueiredo (pronounced fig-a-ray-doe) is a 44-year-old Brazilian jazz guitarist who has released 27 CDs and three DVDs. He's a rhythmic, emotional player who captures the heart and passion of his country's lyrical Carnival music, led by the drive of the bass drum, as well as many other Brazilian and jazz styles.
For his new album, I Love Samba (Arbors), Diego (pictured above) recorded 13 original compositions backed by bassist Nilson Matta, drummer Duduka da Fonseca and flutist Itai Kriss. As Diego says in the album's liner notes about his early teacher, Haroldo Garcia:
"He taught me the Brazilian right-hand technique, elements of jazz chord structures, as well as playing beautifully, with the clean, pure touch of the classical guitarists. Haroldo gave me that whole conception when I was 13, and I knew this is how I wanted to play." [Photo above of Duduka Da Fonseca]
What's fascinating about the album is that Diego's music never bogs down in bossa nova but hopscotches through a range of genres, always mixing in jazz improvisation. The result is both seductive and delightfully jagged. There are touches of Earl Klugh, Lenny Breau and Gabor Szabo as well as earlier Brazilian guitar masters Baden Powell and Bola Sete. The perfect listen as summer bids farewell. [Photo above of Nilson Matta; photo below of Itai Kriss]
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Diego Figueiredo's I Love Samba (Arbors) here or on major streaming platforms.
JazzWax clips: Here's the title track...
Here's Echoes of Manhattan...
And here's Ipanema Dream...
