By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Jazz lovers in Rio have just gained a new reason to celebrate. Tonight, August 31st, the iconic Blue Note jazz club from New York officially opens its Carioca branch in Lagoa, the first in the Southern Hemisphere.
Established in 1981, Blue Note is considered by many to be the most important jazz club in the world. Having hosted legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Tom Jobim, the venue is a true heritage site for the jazz history in New York.
Today, the jazz house has seven different locations spread around the world, including two in Japan, one in China and one in Italy.
Inaugurating Blue Note’s presence in the Southern Hemisphere, Rio’s branch aims to “fill a gap” in the city’s musical scene with a world class jazz club.
According to Daniel Stain, one of Blue Note’s partners, bringing the club to Brazil is longtime dream: “I started to go to New York’s Blue Note when I was a child, and I have always been fascinated by it. In September last year, Calainho [the other partner] and I embarked on the project of bringing Blue Note to Rio. Now, the dream is coming true”.
Choosing Rio as the first Brazilian location was easy, believes Stain: “for this project to work, it was fundamental to have good musicians around. Rio seemed to be the perfect place because this is where many musicians stay”. In the future, Blue Note Rio’s partners intend to expand to São Paulo, Recife (Brazil’s Northeast) and Brasília.
With capacity for 400 people, Blue Note Rio will promote jazz, MPB and blues shows from Wednesdays to Saturdays. Opening the house tonight, at 8PM, will be the Brazil Jazz Stars group, along with Nelson Ayres and Trio da Paz. The show will gather diverse prestigious musicians to celebrate Brazil’s jazz talents with a refined selection of MPB and jazz music.
Including a menu signed by Brazilian chef Pedro de Artagão, the house already has a full agenda for the second semester. Chick Corea & Steve Gadd Band, Sergio Mendes, Maceo Parker, Chris Botti, Hermeto Pascoal, Spyro Gyra, Teresa Salgueiro (Madredeus), Anne Paceo, Baby do Brasil, Didier Lockwood and Jaques Morelenbaum are some of the confirmed artists.
“Blue Note Rio will especially stand out for its jam sessions, which are supposed to happen spontaneously. We cannot predict what will happen, you will have to go and check it out. What if Brazilian musician Hermeto Pascoal meets Lady Gaga in a jam session after her Rock in Rio performance?,” imagines Stain.
Along with economist Daniel Stain and entrepreneur Luiz Calainho, Blue Note Rio is run by Marcelo Megale and the marketing group TGF. It is also sponsored by Budweiser and has the support of Shopping Leblon and UOL website.
What: Blue Note Rio’s opening night
When: Tonight, August 31st – 8PM
Where: Av. Borges de Medeiros, 1424 – Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro – RJ – 22430-042
Entrance: R$40 – R$250