Steen Rasmussen ALLSTAR Quarteto feat. Leo Minax and Celso de Almeida

The Brazilian music history has produced musical miracles like Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joyce Moreno, and Chico Buarque, who have made the whole world fall in love with Brazil and its musical tradition. If, like us, you love velvety smooth bossa nova - especially when performed by the true masters of bossa nova - you can start looking forward to it. We are indeed fortunate to have the fabulous Danish pianist Steen Rasmussen's quintet and his Brazilian soulmates Leo Minax and Celso de Almeida visiting us. The unparalleled drummer Celso de Almeida performs in Brazil with big names like Rosa Passos and Eliane Elias. The Brazilian singer and guitarist Leo Minax is the most heartfelt interpreter of bossa nova. With soulful emotion and plenty of heart, he takes us in his songs to the beautiful homeland of bossa nova. This is an orchestra loved by many in Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Spain, and Denmark, and in Kolding!

Line-up:
Steen Rasmussen: piano
Leo Minax (BR): vocals and guitar
Lis Wessberg: trombone
Fredrik Damsgaard: bass
Celso de Almeida (BR): drums

About the band:
Steen Rasmussen is one of Denmark's leading interpreters of Brazilian music. He is known for his ensemble Steen Rasmussen Quintet, which has existed for 10 years and has released seven albums. The ensemble has been nominated for DMA Jazz and twice for the CARL PRIZE. The ensemble often collaborates with Brazilian artists, such as Joyce Moreno, Rodolfo Stroeter, Marcia Lopes, and Paulo Braga, and has toured and recorded in Denmark, Ecuador, Colombia, Spain, Brazil, Germany, and France. Additionally, Steen Rasmussen is known from various musical contexts. As a pianist and keyboardist, he performs with artists like Lis Sørensen, Danseorkestret, Marie Carmen Koppel, and many others.

The Brazilian drummer Celso de Almeida is from São Paulo, where he has been the drummer for the singing star Rosa Passos for 20 years. He has also performed and recorded with prominent Brazilian artists such as Eliane Elias, João Donato, Gal Costa, and Gilberto Gil and Banda Mantiqueira. In 2022/2023, he participated as a drummer in Steen Rasmussen/Josefine Cronholm's project "Milton in Swedish." Additionally, in 2024, a trio album with Steen Rasmussen, Celso De Almeida, and Kaspar Vadsholt will be released.

Singer and guitarist Leo Minax is originally from the highlands of Brazil, Minas Gerais, in the city of Belo Horizonte. He has been residing in Spain for 25 years. He began his musical career on the same street corner as the legendary artist collective Clube da Escuina, which has made its mark on the world stage with artists like Milton Nascimento, Lo Borges, and Toninho Horta. Leo has often been compared to artists like Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. Leo Minax has released 10 albums under his own name and has been a beloved guest on Danish jazz stages for many years.

Lis Wessberg is one of Denmark's leading trombonists, known for her beautiful tone and unique feeling on the instrument. In 2021, Lis Wessberg released her critically acclaimed debut album - Yellow Map - on April Records. And a new album has just been released. She has performed and recorded with a large number of Danish top artists in jazz and pop, including Marilyn Mazur, Lennart Ginman, Fredrik Lundin, Jan Kaspersen, Claus Høxbro, DR Bigband, Hanne Boel, and many more. Lis Wessberg has participated in more than 50 releases and has toured extensively both in Denmark and abroad.

Fredrik Damsgaard is known as a bassist with groove - whether he plays on a Höfner bass or double bass. Fredrik Damsgaard's keen musical ear, distinctive groove, and percussive double bass technique make him a perfect playmate in many musical contexts. Fredrik currently performs with Søs Fenger and Ginne Marker.