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Meet Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar

Posted on by angelo
Meet Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar

by Nanette Wiser

Meet Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar
Meet Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar Inspired by Brazil, Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar bring a new bossa nova sound to the Palladium in St. Pete.
Photo courtesy of Daniela Soledade

Bossa nova queen and international singing sensation Daniela Soledade and her partner, jazz guitarist and producer Nate Najar, make music as effortlessly as others make coffee. The duo seamlessly fuses ideas, lyrics, and captivating music.

During the stormy summer, they spent time in Brazil visiting friends and working in the studio. They rode out Tropical Storm Debby, recorded a music video and released a new single (Mood For Love by John Moody).

Currently, the two are rehearsing for the upcoming show “Brazilian Dream” at the Palladium on September 7. Guests include Patrick Bettison on keyboards and harmonica, Joe Porter on bass and Carl Amundson on electric guitar. Legendary Brazilian drummer Claudio Infante and guitarist Nate Najar are also part of the show.

“We are really excited about this new show, partly inspired by Carnival,” says Soledade, moved to tears by their float. “‘Brazilian Dream’ is more than just a trip to Brazil; it is a fusion of cultures and sounds, seamlessly blending the soulful rhythms of Brazil with the vibrant energy of North America.”

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a person wearing an orange and yellow dress sits on a stool while holding a guitar.
a person wearing an orange and yellow dress sits on a stool while holding a guitar. The roots of bossa nova in Daniela Soledade’s family run deep. In this photo, Soledade holds her grandfather’s guitar.
Photo courtesy of Daniela Soledade

Meet Daniela Soledade

Soledade’s musical passion is a mix of authentic bossa nova, samba, MPB and American popular song. Her contemporary interpretations give her a “new” bossa nova sound.

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, the Soledade family’s bossa nova roots run deep. His grandfather Paulo Soledade composed many popular songs. He worked alongside bossa nova founders Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Toquinho, Baden Powell and Fernando Lobo.

As a child, Soledade observed and played with her father, musician and producer Paulinho Soledade, in the best recording studios in Rio de Janeiro. At 14, she moved to Florida with her mother.

But to paraphrase an old saying: you can take the girl out of Brazil, but you can’t take Brazil out of the girl.

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a person wearing a blue shirt and a large necklace smiling while another person wearing a suit and tie playing a guitar.
a person wearing a blue shirt and a large necklace smiling while another person wearing a suit and tie playing a guitar. In 2020, Soledade teamed up with Najar to livestream “Love & Bossa Nova,” a weekly duo concert series.
Photo courtesy of Daniela Soledade

Love and Bossa Nova

“Music has always been my driving force, both Brazilian and jazz (I love Charlie Byrd) and it still inspires me every day,” Soledade said. “I grew up in this environment of bohemian studios and artists, with musician friends and family who played different styles and rhythms all the time… Brazil also has a lot of different rhythms that are influenced by Indians, Africans and Europeans. That’s what inspired me for the Brazilian dream and for my song ‘Amazon Farewell.’”

In 2019, Soledade released her debut album A moment of you. It contained songs in English and Portuguese that received critical acclaim. Downbeat Magazine He called it “a careful selection of compositions…each one bringing a perfectly nuanced sound, intimacy, harmonious melodies and poetic rhythms while injecting the music with much-needed freshness.”

Soledade has worked with many famous Brazilian musicians, including bossa nova pioneer Roberto Menescal and Antonio Adolfo.

In 2020, Soledade teamed up with Najar to livestream “Love & Bossa Nova,” a weekly duo concert series. The Jazz Times He praised Soledade’s “exquisite singing” and Najar’s “masterful” guitar playing.

Fast forward to 2024, and they’re still creating beautiful music.

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