Rique Pantoja Rio Jazz Quintet

Sat, May 03

Join us for a live taping and listening-room concert for Rique Pantoja's Rio Jazz Quintet! Lucio Vieira - Drums Eli Menezes - Guitars Michael Malone - Saxophone/Flute Ismael Ciríaco - Bass Rique Pantoja - Piano/Vocals Rique Pantoja is an internationally acclaimed composer, jazz pianist, arranger, and songwriter known for his sophisticated musical voice and wide-ranging collaborations. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rique’s career has spanned continents, genres, and decades, leaving a distinct mark on jazz, pop, film, and world music. At 19, he moved to the U.S. to study at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, immersing himself in jazz and contemporary music. An early milestone in his career was his move to Paris to collaborate with the iconic jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. Their musical partnership produced a rare and intimate blend of Brazilian lyricism and American cool jazz, significantly influencing Rique’s harmonic language and melodic sensibility. After returning to Brazil, Rique quickly established himself as a key figure in the Brazilian music scene, working with legendary artists such as Djavan, Ivan Lins, Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, and many others. He also co-founded the group Cama de Gato, one of Brazil’s most celebrated instrumental jazz ensembles of the 1980s. Rique’s talents have attracted top artists from around the globe. He has collaborated with Gloria Estefan, Carlos Santana, Alejandro Sanz, Ricky Martin, Lee Ritenour, Ernie Watts, Alex Acuña, Abraham Laboriel, Steps Ahead, Israel Houghton, and classical guitarist Christopher Parkening, among many others. His ability to navigate across jazz, pop, gospel, and classical idioms makes him a sought-after musician on both stage and screen. In the world of film, Rique’s music has reached international audiences. His compositions were featured in Disney’s family hit “Jungle 2 Jungle”, bringing his vibrant and cinematic style to the big screen. He also contributed to the soundtrack of the animated feature “Rio”, collaborating with Sérgio Mendes and acclaimed composer John Powell. Rique’s work has earned numerous accolades, including Canada’s prestigious Covenant Award for Jazz/Blues Song of the Year for “I Believed It”, co-written with Zoë Theodorou. Whether composing, performing, or producing, Rique’s signature sound—a blend of rhythmic sophistication, melodic richness, and heartfelt emotion—continues to captivate listeners worldwide. Now based in Austin, Texas, Rique remains deeply active as a performer and composer, while also sharing his expertise through online instruction and master classes, inspiring a new generation of musicians around the globe. Please Note: This is a live-taping, so we'll be enforcing a whisper-policy! Cold bottles of still and sparkling water will be available for purchase, but this event is BYOB. Ice will be available if needed, wine keys and 9oz cups provided! 22 free parking spaces onsite are first-come-first-serve. First Show: Doors at 7:45pm, Show at 8pm. Second Show: Doors at 9:45pm, Show at 10pm.