Jazz Nights At Baretto

Richard Cortez, known for his ambition and extensive knowledge of The Great American Songbook, has shared the bandstand with some of New York City’s most celebrated and respected musicians — Sullivan Fortner, Adam Birnbaum, Paul Gill, Peter Bernstein, Grant Stewart, Alexander Claffy, Joe Farnsworth, Jerry Weldon, Joe Strasser, Nicole Glover, Russell Hall and Emmet Cohen — to name a few. Splitting his time between a number of weekly residencies at iconic LGBT venues across the city—among them: Club Cumming, Metropolitan Bar, and Rebar—Cortez has focused and refined his artistry while growing his wide fan-base. Recent performances in distinguished productions such as Live at Emmet’s Place with the Emmet Cohen Trio, or Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz at Pride with drummer/bandleader Bryan Carter, have marked the vocalist’s career for success. Cortez’s openly gay renderings of timeless treasures by Cole Porter, Billie Holiday, Jerome Kern, and so many others deliver swe

Raised in Rio de Janeiro, Barbara Mendes moved to NYC 1995 to study voice and performance at The New School for Social Research. For over 10 years, Barbara Mendes was an important name in NYC’s Brazilian Music scene performing for many years at the mythical Café Wha, the Zinc Bar and SOB’s, just ot name a few. International Jazz Clubs and Festivals: Ocean Blue Jazz Festival in Japan, alongside artists such as Herbie Hancok, Wayne Shorter, Milt Jackson and Tito Puente. (1998) Half Note Jazz Club/ Athens (2000 – 2011) – recording her first album “Live in Greece” In 1999, her musical affinities with Eumir Deodato earned her the invitation to be the voice of the opening “Bossa Nova” movie, directed by Bruno Barreto, released in the US and Brasil. In the same year, Barbara turned to flirting with the cinema, recorded the soundtrack of Indian film “SNIP”, performing with the renowned tabla player Zakir Hussein in a show produced by film producer Merchant & Ivory.

Denise Reis is the acclaimed Brazilian singer, songwriter and guitarist who received a standing ovation by His Holiness the Dalai Lama! She is the “complete artist”, using her talent to promote Brazilian music throughout the world. With impeccably tuned and colorful voice, Denise covers a broad range of styles, from Popular Brazilian Music (MPB) to World Music and Jazz. A truly gifted stylist, one of Denise’s unique techniques is her ability to reproduce the sound of a trumpet with her voice! This amazing artistic characteristic, combined with her singing voice and beautiful guitar playing has opened many doors, resulting in several invitations to perform all over the world. Denise released 2 CDs: Chá de Hortelã com Caviar e Alfândega, both extremely well received by the audience and the critics. In 2007 her international career begun and she performed in countries such as Portugal, Ukraine, Senegal, Venezuela, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Israel, France, Canada, USA, among others.

Michael Stephenson, also known by his stage name Sonny Step, is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has worked alongside such acclaimed artists as Rihanna, Ricky Martin, John Splithoff, and Kate KS. “From the first notes I ever heard,” Stephenson notes, “I’ve always had a love affair with jazz, and while it has always been a big part of my musical identity, it has been perhaps in the background somewhat. My goal for this album was to joyfully unveil that side of my artistry, which until now hasn’t taken center stage.”

No one seems to feel lukewarm about Scout Ford. The NYC Rock-Soul-Blues-Funk-Pop-Country-Reggae vocalist is intense and draws intense responses.
Most people rave about his voice and style, which feature his strong, tenor singing out soulfully with passionate intensity. Surprisingly, the gospel sound that some say he has come from DooWop but is not limited to that sound.

He was inspired by street and subway singers from Washington Square Park in Manhattan. The group Solo (that was signed by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis) were his first inspiration to be a singer and his vocal role models. As a result of their influence he considers himself musical child Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke and a host of other classic Gospel/R&B and some Doo Wop singers.

Through hard work he made his way into the New York City live music scene in Greenwich Village and the surrounding area.

Brianna Thomas is an American jazz singer, vocalist, composer, songwriter, band leader, and percussionist. She was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois, United States. She made her singing debut at the age of six. She is the daughter of drummer and vocalist Charlie Thomas. She is known as being one of the best young straight ahead young jazz singers, says music critic and author Will Friedwald. She is known to bring together various forms of American music from bluegrass to jazz in to an original hybrid of jazz/funk/rock and soul. Her voice is said to be strong and her range huge. She incorporates rare music in her repertoire of early female blues and jazz pioneers such as Bessie Smith, Victoria Spivey, Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, Mamie Smith, and Ida Cox. All About Jazz said of her 2015 debut album, You Must Believe in Love, “Brianna Thomas is the complete package. Through this music she exhibits emotional depth and incredible pitch control and shading

Brandi Thompson is a powerhouse vocalist and songwriter who has performed for audiences and on stages around the globe. Originally hailing from the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, she is a now a Brooklyn resident and the lead singer of Brandi and the Alexanders, a 5-piece psych-rock band based in New York City that has headlined at SXSW, AmericanaFest, Tryon Blues Festival, Toonerville Music Festival, the WFUV Bash and more. Her vocals have been heard alongside singers such as Aloe Blacc, Neon Indian, Sophie B. Hawkins, and Tom O’Dell. She has also shared stages with greats such as Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Southern Avenue, Moonchild, The Holdsteady, The Boxer Rebellion and Simo, Tower of Power, Pat Benatar, Robin Thicke, Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Nick Waterhouse and many others. Her vocals can soon be heard in the upcoming musical movie “Mean Girls,” coming to theaters in January 2024.

Emily Braden is the winner of New York City’s ‘Best of the Best’ Jazz mobile Vocal Competition and two-time cultural ambassador with the US Embassy’s Arts Envoy Program. Originally from Boise, Idaho, Braden is a Harlem-based vocalist, songwriter and lyricist who effortlessly blends jazz, soul and pop to win the hearts of audiences around the world. NYC performances include Birdland Jazz Club, Blue Note Jazz Club (Groove Series), The 55 Bar and Minton’s Playhouse

Jackie Ribas effortlessly melds R&B, gospel, and Brazilian jazz with a sincerity and tenderness that will take your breath away. Born in Brazil, she started to sing when she was just four years old at church. Her mother took matters in her own hands and decided to take Jackie to vocal and music lessons. It was the beginning of a love relationship between Jackie and music. She soon was introduced to various bands, studios sessions, and music conservatory. Her passion and devotion to art was really taking Jackie places. She ended up winning one of most prestigious Talent’s shows in Brazil aired every Saturday at Record Television, got her first record deal when she was just a teenager. At such young age she finds herself traveling and performing all over Brazil. Not long after that she got the attention of producers from Globo Tv, and was invited to be part of the Altas horas band as a vocalist.

Ana Fernandez, Brazilian singer-songwriter and actress, was born in Aracaju Sergipe, northeast of Brazil and grew up in Sao Paulo, known for being an eclectic singer, with a lot of influence from Soul and Blues and also for her energy, which is her trademark, she infects the everyone wherever he goes. Nominated 4 times for Press Ward, and finalist for the Best of Brazil award in USA in 2022.
In 2005 she did a review entitled here in New York and the launch was reported by the newspapers at the time because the launch was at the United Nations, Ana donated all sales of the CD to the Children’s Cancer Hospital in SP Brazil. She performed several times at the UN and sang at the UN’s 62nd birthday party.
It is in the book A Musica Brasileira em NY which is being written by a Professor from Ramapol College NJ.
He has performed alongside many famous Brazilians.
Ana Fernandez is a personality in Brazilian Music.

Leah Rich is a child of refugee Soviet musicians. A first generation American, Leah was taught from birth, that freedom of expression is worth living and dying for. After a lifetime spent playing unsanctioned jazz under the oppressive Soviet regime, Leah’s family risked everything to start over in New York City. And there, a new creative powerhouse came to be. Leah’s authentic, urban style bridges the gap between her Soviet Azeri roots, and her metropolitan upbringing.