Paulinho Garcia

**Paulinho Garcia** is a Brazilian-born guitarist, vocalist, and composer who’s become a beloved fixture in Chicago’s jazz and world music scene. Hailing from Belo Horizonte, he brought his smooth bossa nova flair and warm, velvety voice to the U.S. in the late ’70s, quickly carving out a niche as a master of blending Brazilian rhythms with jazz improvisation. Over the years, he’s charmed audiences with albums like *The Beatles Nova* (reimagining Beatles classics with bossa grooves) and *Bossa e Outras Nova*, showcasing his knack for reinventing classics while crafting his own breezy, soulful originals. A collaborator with jazz greats like Howard Levy and Paul Wertico, Garcia’s music—heard in tracks like *Aquarela* and *Andança*—feels like a cozy conversation between Rio and Chicago, always rooted in authenticity and joy. When he’s not performing, he’s nurturing the next generation of musicians, proving his passion for music is as endless as his groove.