Natalie Cressman & Ian Faquini: Brazilian Songcraft

Natalie Cressman & Ian Faquini Return to The River Room!
Saturday, April 11th
Doors 6:30 PM | Show 7:30 PM

After a stunning and intimate performance that captivated our audience last season, the extraordinary duo of Natalie Cressman and Ian Faquini return to The River Room for an evening of lush harmonies, masterful musicianship, and deeply expressive songwriting.

Well-versed in Latin jazz, post-bop, sophisticated pop, and the rich traditions of Brazilian music, Cressman & Faquini bring timeless sounds into the modern era with breathtaking originality. Their collaboration transcends the notion of “duo” - with sumptuous two-part vocal harmonies in Portuguese, French, and English, intertwined with acoustic guitar and trombone, they create a richly orchestrated sound that feels far larger than two musicians on stage.

Their fourth full-length album, Revolução (released on GroundUP Music in fall 2025), captures the intimacy and emotional honesty that define their live performances. A meditation on love, loss, and the rituals of daily life, the album further cements their place among today’s most compelling cross-cultural jazz artists. Previous releases "Setting Rays of Summer", "Auburn Whisper", and "Guinga", received critical acclaim, topped numerous “best of” lists, and earned the duo a finalist nomination for “Duo of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association.

Born in Brasília and raised in Berkeley, guitarist and composer Ian Faquini is a protégé of the legendary Brazilian songwriter Guinga and a master of MPB (música popular brasileira), blending jazz harmony with Brazil’s rich rhythmic traditions.

Trombonist, vocalist, and songwriter Natalie Cressman, a three-time DownBeat “Rising Star Trombone” award recipient, brings crystalline vocals and lyrical trombone artistry shaped by years touring with Trey Anastasio and collaborating with jazz luminaries including Wycliffe Gordon, Nicholas Payton, Anat Cohen, and Dave Douglas.

Together, they have performed across the United States and internationally in Brazil, Japan, Portugal, Spain, and Italy, gracing stages from intimate listening rooms to major festivals such as Monterey Jazz Festival and Jazz Aspen Snowmass.

On Saturday, April 11th, experience the warmth, nuance, and expansive beauty of this remarkable duo up close in the intimate setting of The River Room.

This is music that whispers, dances, and soars - and it is not to be missed.

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