Mario Bakuna is a London-based Brazilian composer, arranger, singer and guitar player, with twenty years of professional experience. A graduate of the Free University of Music in Sao Paulo, Brazil, he studied with musicians such as Olmir Stocker, Roberto Sion and Roberto Bomilcar (the pianist who played with Frank Sinatra during his visit to Brazil). In Brasil, Mario Bakuna has played alongside the trombonist Itacir Bocato, guitarist Renato Consorte, and pianist Nelson Aires, just to name a few.
His study focuses on the development of a music repertoire inspired by the greats of Afro-Brazilian Music, Samba, Jazz and Bossa Nova. In addition to developing new arrangements of music by enshrined Brazilian artists as Tom Jobim, Dorival Caymmi, Paulo Moura, and João Donato, in recent years he has been working on reinterpretations of Samba Jazz – musical genre that emerged in Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s and was led by musicians like Luiz Eça, Tamba Trio, and Edson Machado. Their repertoire was based on Brazilian standards with more sophisticated harmonies inspired by the Post-Bossa Nova movement.
Mario Bakuna travelled to Europe to expand his knowledge and skills and since settling in London has performed alongside musicians such as Jean Toussaint, Liam Noble, Ricardo dos Santos, Edmundo Carneiro, Cacau Queiroz, Alain Jean Marie, Dudu Penz, and Filó Machado.
During the tour of his previous album recorded alongside the percussionist Edmundo Carneiro – ‘Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia’ – he performed successful shows in London (Pizza Express, 606 Jazz Club, Ronnie Scott’s, Ealing Jazz Festival, The Crypt Jazz Club, The Jazz Café), Brussels (Bouche à Oreille, Chapelle de Boondael), Paris (Sunset Sunside, 38Riv, Toulx Saint Croix Jazz Festival), Switzerland (La Spirale, Neuchatel Collegiale Church), Amsterdam (Teatro Munganga, Pllek, Jazz Café Alto), Portugal (Armazem 8, Palácio do Príncipe Real), Spain (Sala Clamores, Castillo de Santa Bárbara, El Mussol Jazz Club, Café Mercedes, Refugio Jazz Club) Italy (Garage Moulinski, Milestone Piacenza Jazz Club, Circolo Giovane Italia, Cascina Casottello Milano) Germany (Augsburg Jazz Club, Tucholsky Theatre Minden, Goldkante Jazz Club Bochum), Madagascar (Nosy-Be International Jazz Festival), and Brazil (Blue Note São Paulo, Jazz Nos Fundos).
WHAT’S ON?
Happy Hour: 2 cocktails for £12, 5 PM to 7 PM
+ 7 PM to 8 PM for members.
Doors open at 7 PM, Music from 7:30 PM.
Purchase your tickets below
This event is open to all!
Please note, for our live events you will be able to purchase entry tickets which will cover seating and standing. Seating will be on a first come, first serve basis so if you would like to secure a table with your party, we would suggest you show up when doors open.
Member’s tickets will have a table served from 7pm – 7:30pm, after 7:30pm if you have not shown up, your table will be re-allocated. Membership card will be required to be shown on the door and membership ID number to be presented at check out.
FOOD
The Cellar and beer garden showcases our signature ‘London Fusion’ menu, celebrating diverse flavours and colourful ingredients from different communities across our city.
We believe in making food that tastes best when shared, crafted with the finesse and care of an accomplished chef. Our rotating menu is curated by our head chef, Romulo Silva.
