You will dance to Sergio Mendes
Brazilian bandleader promises a party next weekend at the Long Beach Jazz Festival
The Long Beach Jazz Festival returns to Rainbow Lagoon Park with a lineup of about a dozen artists performing outdoors Aug. 12-14.
Grammy-winning pianist Robert Glasper will headline Aug. 12, R&B and jazz singer-songwriter and actress Ledisi headlines Aug. 13, and Brazilian music legend Sergio Mendes will close out the three-day festival Aug. 14.
Mendes, 80, is a beloved pianist, songwriter, bandleader and producer who performs around the world. He’s also considered one of the pioneers of bossa nova, the Brazilian mix of samba with melodic jazz rhythms that blew up in the ’60s and remains one of the country’s most popular musical genres.
Mendes, who lives in Woodland Hills, shot to fame in the mid-1960s with his band Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 with the hit song “Mas Que Nada.” Throughout his career, the music has evolved as he’s fused bossa nova, samba and other Brazilian sounds with pop, jazz, R&B and funk.
In his more than 60-year run, the Grammy winner has released more than 70 albums and has worked with musical legends like Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder, and more contemporary artists like Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am, who produced Mendes’ 2006 album, “Timeless.” That record also included collaborations with Justin Timberlake, Erykah Badu, QTip, India.Arie and Jill Scott.
Mendes latest album, 2021’s “In the Key of Joy,” reunited him with will.i.am and features a song with rapper Common. A documentary about his life, “Sergio Mendes in the Key of Joy,” was also released last year.
We caught up with Mendes by phone ahead of the Long Beach Jazz Festival and asked the music legend a few questions. Q What can we expect from you as you close out the Long Beach Jazz Festival?
A We’re really looking forward to coming to Long Beach. We’re playing all the hits, all the classics from Brasil ’66 and now to 2023. It’s going to be a Brazilian outdoor party. Everyone will be dancing.
Q You’re known for mixing a lot of musical styles with a Latin base in your music. With the new album, how would you describe where your music is today?
A My music is a combination of things: great songs, great rhythms and the wonderful songs from Brazil. It’s hard to describe, but it’s a party; it’s a celebration. That’s why the name of the last album is “In the Key of Joy.” That’s what I do. I love this new album — just the fact that I had people like Common on it and other guests — what a great experience.
Q You’ve been referred to in your career as a sort of musical ambassador for Brazilian music all over the world. Do you see yourself that way?
A I think so. That’s where I come from, originally from Brazil, and the music I do has Brazilian songs and rhythms. So yeah, those are my roots.
Q And you’re also the subject of a new documentary. What was it like seeing your life on film?
A It was wonderful. John Scheinfeld, the man who directed it and produced it — we spent two years together. We went to Brazil, he interviewed people I’ve worked with here and it was a wonderful experience and I think it’s a great portrait of my life.
Q You’re 80 years old, you’ve been in the business for more than 60 years and you’re still touring and recording. Do you ever plan on taking it easy and retiring?
A No. Never, never. We don’t retire. We keep marching. We keep going. We keep playing songs.