BRAZJAZ ENSEMBLE
Samba Jazz & MPB - Music of Brazil
SATURDAY 4 OCTOBER 2025
Doors Open 7:30 pm
Music Starts 8:00 pm
We’re beyond thrilled to announce that our very special guest, the amazing trumpeter TOBY MAK, will be joining us on stage when he visits Australia later this year. This is going to be a truly unforgettable night—don’t miss it!
Featuring an exciting and creatively charged lineup:
Special guest
TOBY MAK (Trumpet) - from Shanghai
CARLO BARBARO (Sax & Flute)
VASHTI SIVELL (Piano)
JORGE ALBUQUERQUE (Bass)
These exceptional artists will be joined by BRAZJAZ founder and Brazilian-born percussionist CARLOS FERREIRA (Drums & Vocals) to interpret some of the great Brazilian composers, such as J.T. Meirelles, Edu Lobo, Moacir Santos, and João Donato, along with Carlos’ own compositions. This is Samba Jazz at its best, so don’t miss out!
Watch this short vocal improvisation by Carlos Ferreira on the Girl of Ipanema at the Melbourne Recital Centre in 2023:
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
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TOBY MAK
Australian born trumpeter Toby Mak is best known as an in-demand sideman and jazz soloist. He is based in Shanghai, China and has worked with great artists from all over the world in a wide variety of genres. Playing trumpet from the age of ten, Mak was mentored throughout his high school years by Motown legend Gil Askey. He has received 3 GMA nominations, two for "Best Jazz Album".
CARLO BARBARO is a seasoned saxophonist and woodwind artist from Melbourne, Australia, with over 25 years of professional experience. He has collaborated with a wide range of renowned musicians, including Harry Connick Jr., Maceo Parker, Paul Kelly, and The Cat Empire. Carlo has toured extensively, both nationally and internationally, and performed at leading music festivals worldwide. He is an Associate Lecturer in Music, Jazz, and Improvisation at the University of Melbourne.
VASHTI SIVELL is an energetic keys player, music creator and educator. She has performed at some of Australia’s best music festivals; The Big Day Out, Sydney Bacardi Festival, The Bellingen Global Carnival, Woodford Folk festival, Melbourne Woman’s Jazz Festival, WOMADelaide, Brisbane Festival Spiegeltent and The Byron Bay Blues festival. She has also performed internationally at the Tokyo Hilton, Macau Venetian Casino, Hong Kong Disneyland and was based in New York City for seven years performing and producing music. Since 2017 she has lived in Melbourne performing with: The Chantoozies, Nina Ferro, Eugene Hamilton, Elvis Trilogy, Damien Leith, Claymore, Nicky Bomba, Debra Byrne, Mayito Rivera, Calle Luna, Cumbiamuffin and Gorgi Coghlan. She has produces music for emerging artists, podcasts and TV series and currently teaches at Monash University in Latin and Popular music.
JORGE ALBUQUERQUE is a bass player, guitarist, composer and arranger who lives in the city of Melbourne, Australia. Jorge was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He started his career in the late 80’s playing in local clubs and Brazilian jazz bands as Orquestra Oficina and Orquestra de Sax.. In Brazil he studied music with Adriano Gifoni and Nelson Farias. He grew up listening to Brazilian music and Jazz. His main influences are Egberto Gismonte, Hermeto Pascoal, Toninho Horta, Nico Assumpcao, Bill Evans, Chick Corea and Weather Report. Then in 1992 started his career as music teacher , teaching bass in two of the most important schools in Rio, CIGAN and Centro Musical Antonio Adolfo. On that time did a work with Antonio Adolfo Trio, with Pascoal Meireles on Drums. In 1994, he released an album with a band Linha 176. He did his first work with Marcos Amorim recording the album Luz da Lua. He moved to Miami and played with artists as Nestor Torres, Nando Lauria, Leo Gandeman. In Miami recorded an album with Val Lupescu, Vloop trio. When in Miami he studied jazz with great teachers as Gary Campbell, Nike Horta and Denis Marks at Florida International University. From Miami he stated his passion for traveling, what it made a big impact in his music. Working in Hotels and Cruise ships he traveled around the world searching for inspirations and knowledge. Now he lives in Melbourne, Australia, and performing with his own band as well as with Panorama do Brasil, Agostina Bruno, BrazJaz, Suingue Brazuca and Dany Maya .
CARLOS FERREIRA, a drummer from Rio de Janeiro, brings his deep roots in Samba to Australia, where he has been a key figure in the Brazilian music scene since 1985. He founded Melsamba, Australia’s first Samba school, in 1988, followed by BrazJaz in 1991 and Suingue Brazuca in 2007 (watch Suingue Brazuca perform at the Melbourne Recital Centre in 2022:
). He has performed at major festivals worldwide and is known for his work in Samba Jazz and traditional Samba. In addition to his performance career, Carlos has been a leading educator and event organizer.
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