Abelita Mateus- Mixed Feelings Album release celebration: Duo with Peter Slavov.
“Brazilian singer-songwriter and pianist Abelita Mateus is part of the front-facing evolution of Brazilian music as it projects into the twenty-first century.” (C. Michael Bailey) Living in the NYC area since 2012, Mateus has taken a remarkable path. She released her debut album Vivenda in 2017 (co-produced by and featuring guitarist Romero Lubambo), which reached the 24th position on the Jazz Week Charts.
Mateus is currently the pianist for the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience, directed by Dizzy Gillespie alumni John Lee. She has performed with such notables as Paquito D’Rivera, John Lee, The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Antonio Hart, Eric Alexander, Larry Coryell, Claudio Roditi, Raul de Souza, Hermeto Pascoal, Dave Stryker, Romero Lubambo, and Portinho. Mateus plays at international venues such as the Blue Note New York, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Yoshi’s Jazz Club in San Francisco, Ronnie Scott’s in London, and Bird’s Basement in Melbourne, Australia. In December 2017, Mateus was invited to perform alongside Helen Sung, Marcia Ball and Joanne Brackeen for NPR’S A Jazz Piano Christmas at the Kennedy Center.
"Abelita Mateus has so many of the qualities that are important for any successful musician. Her piano artistry is remarkable, and she is a talented composer and vocalist. Abelita's intelligence and heart are also expressed through her music. She is part of the next generation of great Brazilian musicians. With all this talent, Abelita is someone to really keep your eyes on!" Romero Lubambo
"Abelita Mateus has, in abundance, those indispensables of the musicians’ craft: sensitivity, creativity, and a prodigious technique. Most of all, she sparkles with refreshment - and for a jazz musician to sound refreshing in 2017 is no ordinary thing!" John Lee
