The Brazilian Guitar of Mario Bakuna
Saturday 7th February 2026
Tickets: £20.00 Seat at a shared Table for 4 /£15.00 Seat – No Table
Doors: 7.30pm
Show: 8:00pm-9:30pm – Single Set 75 min
Please note you can book for dinner either before or after the show.
HJC is proud to welcome the return of Mario Bakuna for 2 nights of a poetic celebration of Brazil’s musical heritage through guitar, voice, and rhythm — from bossa nova to samba jazz.
MARIO BAKUNA
In this intimate solo concert for acoustic guitar and voice, Mario Bakuna invites the audience into the heart of the Brazilian guitar tradition — a language shaped by rhythm, subtlety, and deep emotional resonance. Drawing inspiration from masters such as João Gilberto and Baden Powell, Bakuna explores the unique role of the guitar in Brazilian music: at once harmonic, rhythmic, and profoundly expressive. João Gilberto’s plucked-chord bossa nova style, with its delicate syncopation and understated elegance, meets Baden Powell’s virtuosic fusion of samba, Afro-Brazilian rhythms, and jazz sophistication, creating a rich tapestry of influences that have shaped Bakuna’s musical identity.
Blending original compositions with fresh, personal arrangements of gems from bossa nova, Brazilian jazz, and samba jazz, ‘The Brazilian Guitar of Mario Bakuna’ explores the balance between tradition and innovation. With expressive vocals and his signature acoustic guitar, Bakuna reimagines classic repertoire and presents new works infused with warmth, refined swing, nuanced phrasing, an unmistakable sense of groove, and a modern sensibility.
Mario Bakuna is a Brazilian composer, arranger, vocalist, and guitarist, bringing over 25 years of musical artistry to audiences worldwide, currently based in London, UK. Well known for his deep exploration of traditional Brazilian rhythms, samba, jazz, and bossa nova, Mario captures the spirit of Brazilian swing, blending it with refined jazz colours in both his original compositions and fresh arrangements of works by iconic artists such as Tom Jobim, Dorival Caymmi, Paulo Moura, and João Donato.
Since moving to Europe to deepen his artistic research and expand his horizons, Mario has become a prominent figure in the UK’s Brazilian jazz scene — a key reference for the fusion of Brazilian music and contemporary jazz. His captivating performances have taken him far beyond London, with tours across more than 20 European countries, as well as Brazil, Canada, Madagascar, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kaliningrad, and Taiwan. Over the years, he has built a distinctive international career, enchanting audiences in both intimate jazz clubs and on grand festival stages around the world. From performing for 3,000 people in Azerbaijan and 7,000 in Kaliningrad to achieving a record audience of 150,000 people at the Taichung Jazz Festival in Taiwan, Mario has reached milestones that reflect the universal appeal and emotional depth of his performances.
Driven by a passion for musical exploration, Mario has collaborated with artists including Jean Toussaint, Alain Jean-Marie, Liam Noble, Edmundo Carneiro, Guinga, Cacau Queiroz, Ricardo dos Santos, Daniel Jobim, Nelson Ayres, Robertinho Silva, and Filó Machado.
His acclaimed albums ‘Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia‘ and ‘Brazilian Landscapes‘ showcase his ability to fuse traditional roots with a contemporary musical sensibility. With sold-out concerts, glowing reviews, and growing international recognition, Mario Bakuna continues to celebrate and expand the language of Brazilian jazz — bringing its rhythm, warmth, and sophistication to audiences around the globe.
“Mario Bakuna, a sparkling guitarist, plays with palpable feeling – his virtuosic fluency on the fretboard is controlled and flourishes are perfectly placed. His voice has a texture like heavy cloth”. – Songlines Magazine
“Mario Bakuna, a man who exudes music. (…) ‘vocals’ doesn’t begin to do him justice: his expressive range and the precision with which he was able to deploy it was truly the band’s fifth instrument. (…) And he did this while playing guitar with precision and finesse. (…) his solos were a further source of amazement, his technique somewhere between finger-picking style and classical. His solo introduction to a Baden Powell number made a hash of any attempt at a definition.” – The Whitman Review, Wakefield Jazz
LINE-UP:
Acoustic Guitar & Vocals – Mario Bakuna
Please note, The Club is not licensed to allow access to Children under the age of 16 after 9pm, so for evening performances, please do not book tickets for children under the age of 16. Children aged 16 and above are welcome at any time.
For £20.00 Tickets:
Seats are not numbered and you will be seated at available tables. Please note tables seat 4 people, so for bookings of less than 4 people, you will be seated and share a table for 4.
For £15.00 Tickets:
This is a fully seated event. Seats are not numbered and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.
Please note the Jazz Club is situated in the basement of the Duke of Hamilton Pub and access is via a number of stairs. The nearest toilets are situated on the 1st floor of the Pub.
Showtimes
Doors: 7:30 pm | Show: 8:00 pm