João Bosco Quartet

João Bosco has reason to celebrate. He kicks off his U.S. tour in celebration of his 80th birthday and more than 50 years of his career with a special performance at McCarter, cementing his status as one of the most influential figures in modern Brazilian music.

A Latin GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, João Bosco is one of the heroes of Música Popular Brasileira, discovered by Vinicius de Moraes and championed early in his career by Antônio Carlos Jobim. He is renowned for his distinctive guitar playing and eclectic musical style, blending Samba and Bossa Nova, Jazz and Afro-American rhythms, along with elements from his Lebanese heritage and other global influences.

His intricate rhythmic technique and expressive vocal style have earned him admiration both in Brazil and internationally. Bosco’s legendary songwriting partnership with poet Aldir Blanc produced some of Brazilian music’s most enduring classics, recorded by icons such as Elis Regina. After Regina's passing, Bosco stepped further into the performance spotlight and has remained one of the most compelling figures in Brazilian music for decades.

Sharing the stage with João Bosco is a world-class lineup: Ricardo Silveira on guitar, Guto Wirtti on bass, and Kiko Freitas on drums. The musical direction and concept of the show are guided by João and his son Francisco Bosco, who also collaborated on the songwriting for recent albums and co-developed the show’s artistic vision.

Opening the evening, Brazilian classical guitar prodigy Gabriele Leite, named to the Forbes Under 30 list among numerous accolades, will perform selections from her new album Territórios, including works by Heitor Villa-Lobos and Sérgio Assad.

Photo: Gabriele Leite