Flavour of Latin America for Southport jazz festival

May 28 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

THERE’S a Latin flavour heading to Southport’s festival events this weekend.

Jazz with a Brazilian influence and a salsa party will be taking over the town's Southport International Jazz Festival for two days only.

Brazilian singer- songwriter Mônica Vasconcelos is making her way to the resort on Friday to performs on Friday at Southport Arts Centre, while the UK’s finest salsa big band, Bacalao, bring their salsa dance party to the same venue on Saturday.

London-based Vasconcelos, who began singing in the bars of São Paulo at the age of 17, has recorded six albums and has recently released her latest offering Hih.

Her interpretation of Brazilian music is highly acclaimed, and her Southport appearance will be her only gig outside London.

She has performed with UK stars Bryan Ferry and Courtney Pine over the years, and has performed at world-class venues, including appeared at The Barbican and Ronnie Scott's, the Cheltenham International Jazz Festival and Brecon Jazz.

Meanwhile, the Bacalao Salsa Dance Party will present a night of Latin music reminiscent of the great Cuban dance bands of the 40s and 50s. In addition to the performance, there will be a dance workshop and dance-floor space to teach salsa fans a step or two.

Nia Valerio, festival organiser, said the annual event was shaping up to be a "fabulous, funky festival of music."

She said: "These two events are really exciting and we are delighted to be welcoming such fantastic performers.

"Bacalao will be getting the party started with their salsa beats and Mônica Vasconcelos is an excellent singer- songwriter who performs a great mix of music and we are delighted to be welcoming her to Southport."

Tickets for Mônica Vasconcelos and Bacalao Salsa Dance Party are each show are £12 (£10 concessions), available from Southport Arts Centre on 01704- 540011 or www. southportjazz.com