Leeds jazz/global beats promoter DJ Lubi kicks off his autumn 2024 season at Hyde Park Book Club with a night dedicated to music from some of the countries in the Portuguese speaking Lusophone family of nations. Featuring two singers from Portugal - one based in London, the other in Leeds - who bring together musical influences from their home country alongside those of Brazil and Angola.
Inês Loubet, a dynamic singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, is known for her Brazilian-influenced, danceable songs that seamlessly blend improvisation and jazz harmony with captivating melodies and powerful lyrics. Hailing originally from Portugal, she was raised in a large family that exposed her to a rich cultural tapestry - African rhythms from her Angolan-born father and the enchanting sounds of Brazilian music from her maternal side. Spending her summers in Bahia, Brazil, Loubet immersed herself in the vibrant local music scene, learning from masters and delving deep into the rich musical heritage. This laid the foundation for her distinctive voice, situated at the crossroads of modern Latin and Jazz music, infused with an authentic Portuguese flavor.
In 2013, Loubet made the move to London to pursue her passion further, studying jazz vocals and Latin percussion at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music. The conservatoire played a pivotal role in her artistic development, and today, she gives back by mentoring aspiring musicians through the same program. Since graduating in 2017, Loubet's musical journey has been marked by notable performances at prestigious venues and festivals. From gracing the stage at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall to a sold-out Tropicalia show at The Jazz Café, supporting Brazilian legend Gilberto Gil at the O2 Shepherds Bush, and sharing the spotlight with João Bosco & Hamilton de Holanda at The Union Chapel in 2018, Loubet's talent has garnered widespread recognition. Her projects have received acclaim from influential figures such as Gilles Peterson (BBC 6 Music), and Mr Bongo (London's top Brazilian music label), earning her several UK and international tours and radio appearances on platforms like Jazz FM, NTS, Soho Radio, Worldwide FM and BBC Radio 3. In 2022, Loubet received the Drake Yolanda Award for emerging artists, and her dedication to her craft has been further supported by Arts Council Of England and Help Musicians UK funding for a 12-date UK tour to promote her debut album, "SENGA," released in May 2024 by Albert's Favourites Records. Tonight is the Leeds album launch party.
After a great year in 2023, when she launched her new band in Leeds and packed out venues across the city, Portuguese singer Suéli Gil released her debut UK EP “O Tempo é A Hora” in March 2024. A collection of original music and songs influenced by her upbringing back home, her family roots and the different cultures that inspired her - Portuguese, Angolan, Brazilian.
The daughter of Angolan parents, Suéli was surrounded by music from an early age. The Angolan folkloric rhythms of semba along with funana from Cape Verde mixed with Brazilian Afro-Bahian sounds and songs from the “Tropicália” movement played in her family's household. Already singing in the school choir, she began taking music seriously when she went to university and her main musical influences were the great singers of Brazilian popular music (MPB) - Djavan, Gilberto Gil, Elis Regina, Gal Costa, Paulo Flores. She sang with bands and soon she met her musical mentor - Tuniko Goulart - a Brazilian musician based in the Algarve, described by Portuguese Blitz Magazine as “a genius of the guitar”, who has played with Brazilian music legends such as Gilberto Gil and Airto Moreira. He also participated in “Madam X”, Madonna’s 2019 album recorded in Lisbon and which featured Portuguese, Brazilian and Angolan music styles and rhythms.
When she arrived in the UK and settled in Leeds, she immediately began performing Brazilian music in cafes and restaurants in a duo format featuring herself on vocals and a guitarist. By 2017, she formed her first UK band "Suéli Gil & Friends" featuring TC & The Groove Family drummer Tim Cook. Together they co-wrote and released a samba house track called "Toca Samba" and her band performed across the north at venues and events such as The Hifi Club Leeds, Liverpool's Brazilica Carnival, Manchester Brazilian Food Festival, Vamos Leeds Festival, Chapel Allerton Festival (Leeds), The Wardrobe Leeds and the World On Our Doorstep festival. At the beginning of 2020, things were looking very promising but then the world shut down in March due to the covid pandemic and Suéli had to return to Portugal. It ended up being an 18 month break from the UK though she continued singing and performing back home.
Returning to the UK in early 2022, Suéli Gil was back singing again, firstly as a guest vocalist with Gustavo Andrade & The Brasukas MPB/samba band, performing with them at Brudenell Social Club and Hifi Club in Leeds and a sold out Brazil Carnival at The Blues Kitchen, in Manchester. By summer 2023, Suéli decided she wanted to have her own band again and so she recruited a new young band of top musicians from the Leeds jazz/global beats music scene. They made their debut at Leeds Jazz Festival in May 2023, closing the Welcome To Leeds stage on the Saturday to a standing ovation. Other 2023 Leeds shows included support slots to Chilean band Newen Afrobeat and afrojazz group Ubunye, both at Brudenell Social Club. And two sold out shows - one at Hyde Park Book Club supporting The Brasukas, and a headline show at 7 Arts in Chapel Allerton which sold out days before the gig. In spring 2024, she released her debut UK EP “O Tempo é A Hora”, produced by Tuniko Goulart with additional production by Ciaran Wilson.
A wonderful night celebrating Lusophone culture with two brilliant Portuguese singers who love Brazilian and Angolan music, both performing original compositions with their bands featuring great musicians.
