Tickets: £22.50 Seat at a shared Table for 4 /£17.50 Seat - No Table

Doors: 7.30pm

Show: 8:00pm-9:30pm - Single Set 75 min

Please note you can book for dinner either before or after the show.

The Hampstead Jazz Club is pleased to be taking part in this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival bringing you a line-up of our esteemed artists.

Experience an unforgettable evening with renowned Brazilian artist Mario Bakuna as he presents a heartfelt solo tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim—the visionary behind bossa nova and one of Brazil’s most influential composers.

In this intimate performance, Bakuna offers an authentic and deeply personal perspective on Jobim’s timeless works, inviting the audience on a soul-stirring journey through his iconic repertoire.

Shaped by a lifelong connection to Brazilian music and years of performing across Europe and beyond, Bakuna approaches both Jobim’s beloved classics and lesser-known gems with sensitivity, elegance, and deep reverence for his legacy.

This concert is a celebration of melody, rhythm, and poetry—an exploration of the beauty and complexity of Jobim’s music, delivered by one of its most passionate interpreters.

Mario Bakuna is a Brazilian composer, arranger, vocalist, and guitarist with over 20 years of professional experience, currently based in London, UK. He graduated from the Free University of Music in São Paulo, Brazil, where he studied under acclaimed musicians such as Olmir Stocker, Roberto Sion, and Roberto Bomilcar.

Well known for his deep exploration of traditional Brazilian rhythms, samba, jazz, and bossa nova, Mario focuses on both original compositions and fresh arrangements of works by iconic artists like Tom Jobim, Dorival Caymmi, Paulo Moura, and João Donato. In recent years, he has also dedicated his research and performance to reinterpreting Samba Jazz, a genre that emerged in 1950s Rio de Janeiro through the work of artists like Luiz Eça, Tamba Trio, and Edson Machado. This style blends Brazilian standards with sophisticated harmonies influenced by the post–bossa nova movement.

Driven by a passion for musical exploration, Mario moved to Europe to deepen his research and expand his artistic horizons. Since settling in London, he has collaborated with artists such as Jean Toussaint, Liam Noble, Ricardo dos Santos, Edmundo Carneiro, Cacau Queiroz, Alain Jean-Marie, Dudu Penz, and Filó Machado. He has since become a prominent figure and key reference in the UK’s Brazilian jazz scene, performing extensively across Europe and beyond at renowned venues and international festivals.

His albums Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia and Brazilian Landscapes highlight his ability to fuse traditional roots with a contemporary musical sensibility. With sold-out concerts and critical acclaim, these projects have toured across 20 European countries, as well as Brazil, Canada, Madagascar, Egypt, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan—captivating audiences around the world.

“Mario Bakuna, a sparkling guitarist, plays with palpable feeling - his virtuosic fluency on the fretboard is controlled and flourishes are perfectly placed. His voice has a texture like heavy cloth” - Songlines Magazine

LINE-UP:

Mario Bakuna - Acoustic guitar and Vocals

Please note, The Club is not licensed to allow access to Children under the age of 16 after 9pm, so for evening performances, please do not book tickets for children under the age of 16. Children aged 16 and above are welcome at any time.

For £22.50 Tickets:

Seats are not numbered and you will be seated at available tables. Please note tables seat 4 people, so for bookings of less than 4 people, you will be seated and share a table for 4.

For £17.50 Tickets:

This is a fully seated event. Seats are not numbered and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

Please NOTE, there is NO food served in the Jazz Club, there is a bar for drinks. We advise booking a table for dinner at the Duke of Hamilton upstairs at least 1hr before show-time - Book Here

Please note the Jazz Club is situated in the basement of the Duke of Hamilton Pub and access is via a number of stairs. The nearest toilets are situated on the 1^st floor of the Pub.