Diego Figueiredo and Special Guests

Brazilian Nights 
Diego Figueiredo, Guitar/Shelly Berg, Piano/ Sammy Figueroa, Congas/Nestor Torres, Flute

Diego Figueiredo
Brazilian jazz icon, guitarist Diego Figueiredo, lives in, with, and for the music. He began playing music at four years old. By the age of twelve, he had already attracted a local following, and when he was fifteen, he was drawing huge crowds around Brazil.  Diego has recorded over two dozen albums, both solo and in collaboration with others, and has released 25 CDs between his releases in Brazil, the European label Stunt Records, and Arbors Records.  He has played in more than 60 countries and is the winner of several important competitions including The Montreux Jazz Guitar Competition, and Brazil’s VISA Prize.

Diego has recorded and performed with Brazil’s biggest stars including Gilberto Gil, João Bosco, Roberto Menescal, Toquinho, Fafá de Belém, Angela Maria, Toninho Horta, and several years touring the world accompanying Brazil’s beloved composer and vocalist, Belchior. For the last ten years, Diego has spent much of his time in North America, performing solo and in duos with Larry Coryell, Ken Peplowski, John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton, Chuchito Valdes, Stanley Jordan, and Cyrille Aimée. 

For his February 9 concert, Diego will include special guest appearances by Shelly Berg, piano, Sammy Figueroa, congas, and Nestor Torres, flute. 

“One of the greatest guitarists I’ve seen in my whole life”             
 - George Benson

“It was his incredibly fluid and natural performance style…seemingly effortless and thoroughly fabulous” – Laura Whitmore, Guitar World

Venue: Amaturo Theater @ the Broward Center of the Performing Arts

Shelly Berg

Shelly Berg is a Steinway piano artist and multi-Grammy nominated arranger and producer. His latest album Gershwin Reimagined: An American in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by José Serebrier and produced by Gregg Field (Decca Gold).  The All Music Guide says “Shelly Berg is one of the finest pianists around in the early 21st century playing modern mainstream jazz.”

Sammy Figueroa

As one of the music's leading percussionists he has played on countless records and is well-known for his versatility in a multitude of musical styles. Besides playing with some of the world's greatest pop stars, such as David Bowie, Chaka Khan and Mariah Carey, Sammy has also played with a multitude of distinguished jazz artists including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, George Benson, and many, many more.

Nestor Torres

Standing on the shoulders of flute giants from worlds as diverse as Rampal & Galway in Classical Music; Richard Egues’ Cuban Charanga style; rocker Ian Anderson’s Jethro Tull; Herbie Mann and – most influential of all – Hubert Laws as pioneers of Jazz Flute, Latin Grammy Award-winning Nestor Torres’ rhythmic and mellifluous flute sound remains apart in a class all by itself. His 14 recordings as a soloist; 4 Latin Grammy nominations, one Grammy nomination and one Latin Grammy Award; collaborations with diverse artists such as Gloria Estefan, Kenny Loggins, Dave Mathews, Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente, Michael Camilo, Paquito D’ Rivera, and Arturo Sandoval; as well as performances with the Cleveland, Singapore, and New World Symphony Orchestras among many others.