Brazilian Happiness - The Brazilian Project

ABOUT THE BRAZILIAN PROJECT: 

The Brazilian Project is about the beautiful harmonies, crackling rhythms and exquisite melodies of Brazil. We play Bossa Nova, Samba, Baiao and other Brazilian styles. The music is all groove-based jazz. We play music of the great Brazilian composers and some of our songs too. The Project began in 2005 with a community of musicians getting together to play this music for ourselves. A lot of great players have participated. Here are bios of the current working group. 

BIOS: 

Jarrell Irvin (keys)

Jarrell has played keyboards and keyboard bass in innumerable jazz, pop, and funk bands over the years, and occasionally in other venues, such as the San Francisco based George Coates Performance Works show "Rare Area." He gigs regularly backing up Brazilian singers. 

Dean Muench (bass)

Dean began playing professionally while in High School, playing trombone with his father, a jazz drummer, on big band gigs. Dean soon switched to bass and continued playing jazz and popular music. He works regularly playing Latin, Brazilian and straight-ahead jazz at Bay Area venues. 

Rick Pollack (guitar and vocals)

Rick compiled the current band book of over 200 arrangements, which includes some of his compositions. He is a veteran of hundreds of gigs playing American and Brazilian jazz, and, back in the day, rock and blues. He also plays regularly with the Don Piestrup Big Band and the Bay Area Big Band.

Jim Thorne (drums)

Jim has been a professional drummer and drum teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades. He has played and/or recorded with: The Temptations, Pete & Juan Escovedo, Tom Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival), the Tommy Dorsey Ghost Band, John Handy, Art Lande, Bud Shank, the Mike Vax and Full Faith & Credit big bands and many more.e h