JACQUELINE GAWLER'S AMÉRICA DO SUL
Jacqueline Gawler: voice, percussion
Sam Keevers: piano
Philip Rex: bass
Ryan Menezis: drums
América Do Sul play stunning original songs from Gawler’s acclaimed album Ambrosia alongside wildly rhythmic interpretations of samba, bossa nova, cha cha and deep, fiery grooves that ignite the senses. Interspersed with original spoken word delivered in Rio-accent Portuguese, and spontaneous percussive tangents, this band is a pure celebration of the latin spirit delivered with joyful mastery. Gawler draws inspiration from artists such as Sergio Mendes, Djavan, Roberto Menescal, Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Rosa Passos, Milton Nascimento, Elis Regina and Jorge Ben Jor, as well as muses such as Iemanjá (Goddess of the Ocean) and beachside paradise Ipanema, to take audiences on an unforgettable journey through Brazil and beyond.
For over twenty years, esteemed Melbourne pianist Sam Keevers and drummer Ryan Menezes enjoyed a long association through the legendary Melbourne latin-jazz group Los Cabrones - playing music from Cuba, New York and Puerto Rico. Add one of Australia’s leading exponents of bass Philip Rex, and you have a rhythmic powerhouse of epic proportion, driving the soaring vocals of Jacqueline Gawler - an extraordinary singer/songwriter/percussionist who lived in Rio de Janeiro, playing and recording with some of Brazil’s finest Grammy award-winning musicians.
‘Jacqueline Gawler led the first set with a sultry and soulful performance, rich in the breathlessness that can only be found in Brazilian love songs.’ Beattopia 2015
‘[Gawler] shows her love for her craft in every song, effortlessly gliding around the notes in her substantial vocal range with full and sumptuous backing band along for the ride.’ (4 stars) Cherrie Magazine
Gawler is a modern musician drawing deeply from the world around her. Her original songs are sophisticated and earthy, saturated with the sounds of her vast experience as a world citizen musician: rich jazz harmony and Brazilian rhythm, playful poetry and rock n’ roll persuasion, folky wisdom and refined craft. Jacqueline’s voice is warm and agile, her energy abundant and her music irresistible. Her debut solo album ‘Ambrosia’ was released to critical acclaim in both Australia and Brazil, reaching the Top 20 in the KK Box charts in Asia with over 8 million subscribers.
‘One of the most pleasant surprises of the year comes from [Australia] and her name is Jacqueline Gawler…Her album is a delicious mix of beautiful ballads, world music, mature arrangements and powerful lyrics. Her voice ranges from delicate, almost childlike, to jazzy seductress…‘On My Skin’ is one of the best songs I've heard in a long time…’ A Vida De Solteiro (lifestyle magazine), BRAZIL
'A songwriter of intelligence, with a sense of poetry and a love of language...’ Roger Mitchell, Ausjazz Blog 2011
‘Gawler shows she is not averse to taking risks as she shows the versatility of her strong, sultry and highly adaptable voice.’ Andrew Shaw, MCV 2010
'Effortlessly fluid vocals...' The Age
América Do Sul regularly sell out shows at Melbourne's Paris Cat Jazz Club, as well as performing at venues, wineries and special events around Australia.