Concerts & Events

This extraordinary musical collaboration brings together two jazz talents that will take the audience on a journey through the heart of Brazil and Latin America with a modern jazz twist. Silvia Manrique, a Chicago-based vocalist whose music was recently described as ‘heart-fluttering' by the Chicago Reader, presents a show of contemporary Brazilian classics in samba and bossa nova, musically directed by Brazilian bassist and composer Marcel Bonfim. Performing songs from Silvia's EP ‘Sonho' and previewing original compositions from Marcel's soon-to-be released ‘Farewell Despedida,' the evening is a celebration of their combined talents, a fusion that promises to leave the audience enthralled with the spirit and soul of Brazilian and Latin music reimagined.

Silvia Manrique

Silvia Manrique is a Chicago-based Brazilian and Latin Jazz vocalist. She has performed at respected venues and festivals like the Old Town School of Folk Music, the Logan Square Arts Festival, the Chicago World Music Festival, the Chicago Latino Film Festival and the Millennium Park Summer Music festival at the beautiful Pritzker Pavilion. In 2016, she participated in the album ‘Aquarela,' a compilation of children's songs arranged and produced by the incomparable Paulinho Garcia who says she “carries a song with mastery, both melodically and rhythmically.” Silvia also plays percussion focused on the Brazilian tamborim, completing studies and workshops with Carnaval-style samba percussion masters like Mestre Ailton Nunes of the Mangueira Samba School, Dudu Fuentes of Monobloco and Bangalafumenga, Jorge Alabe and Mestres Guilherme and Gustavo Oliveiro of Salgueiro Samba School.

Marcel Bonfim

Born and raised in Brazil, Marcel Bonfim is a culturally diverse and critically acclaimed musician. Between studying Brazilian popular music in his country and earning a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance from DePaul University in Chicago, he combines the best of these two worlds. Marcel's extensive experience in multiple fields of music, such as Big Band and Symphonic Orchestras, small jazz and Brazilian ensembles, and Musical Theater has helped him to develop a unique sound and musical sensibility. He's had the opportunity to study with the most well known bass players in Brazil and the U.S. such as: Dennis Caroll, Sizão Machado, Itamar Collaço and many others. Marcel has also played and shared the stage with big names like: Hermeto Pascol, Marcos Vale, Neal Alger, George Fludas, Helio Delmiro and many others.