Saudade

Claudio Silva, drums
Taisha Estrada, vocals
Jett Lim, trombone
Jason Arkins, saxophone
Nico Wohl, guitar
Will Hazel, bass

Introducing Saudade, a Baltimore-based Brazilian Samba Jazz band bringing the rhythm, groove, and warmth of Brazil to the Charm City. In Brazil, saudade means a deep emotional mix of longing, love, and nostalgia for something beautiful that lingers in your heart. That’s exactly what we aim to capture in our music. Curated by lead drummer Claudio Silva, whose music blends Brazilian and Dominican influences, the band plays a soulful mix of samba jazz that’s joyful and rhythmic.

Drummer Claudio Silva has always had roots in Dominican and Brazilian music, starting drum lessons at the age of 7. He has fervently studied and been inspired by icons from Baby Dodds and Jo Jones, to Max Roach and Greg Hutchinson, to Elvin Jones and Brian Blade. During his time at Peabody Conservatory, he played with Sean Jones, Warren Wolf, Russell Hall, Miki Yamanaka, Michela Lerman, Emmet Cohen, Brinae Ali, Marcus Strickland, Jason Marsalis, among others. Claudio has been recognized and awarded by the Youngarts Foundation, Downbeat Jazz Magazine and Herbie Hancock Institute National Peer-to-Peer Jazz.