“Brazilian singer-songwriter and pianist Abelita Mateus is part of the front-facing
evolution of Brazilian music as it projects into the twenty-first century.” (C.
Michael Bailey)
Living in the NYC area since 2012, Mateus has taken a remarkable path. She released her debut album Vivenda in 2017 (co-produced by and featuring guitarist Romero Lubambo), which reached the 24th position on the Jazz Week Charts.
In 2018 Abelita Mateus released her second album Mixed Feelings at the Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, on a sold out amazing show, receiving great reviews. In December 2017, Mateus was invited to perform alongside Helen Sung, Marcia Ball and Joanne Brackeen for NPR’S A Jazz Piano Christmas at the Kennedy Center.
Mateus is currently the pianist for the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Experience, directed by Dizzy Gillespie alumni John Lee. She has performed with such notables as Paquito D’Rivera, John Lee, The Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Antonio Hart, Eric Alexander, Larry Coryell, Claudio Roditi, Raul de Souza, Hermeto Pascoal, Dave Stryker, Romero Lubambo, and Portinho.
Mateus has performed at international venues such as the Blue Note New York, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Yoshi’s Jazz Club in San Francisco, and Bird’s Basement in Melbourne, Australia, Luna Classics Festival in Nyon, Switzerland, Musig am Zurisee Festival in Horgen, Switzerland, Ronnie Scott’s in London, UK, D.C. Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C., Central Jersey Jazz Festival, Konser Salonu, Turkey, Trinity Church, Yale University.
Since 2019 Abelita became a mom of three beautiful girls, who inspired her to compose more original music. Some of these compositions will be part of her third album to be released in 2026/2027 (“My garden”). With Itaiguara Brandao on bass, Dennis Bulhoes on drums, and the great Dave Stryker playing in four of the ten tracks that include some great originals, the famous Joao Donato “A rã,” (“the frog”) as a tribute to the great Joao Donato and Claudio Roditi, who loved and always performed it, “O pato,” eternized on Joao Gilberto’s iconic interpretation, and a beautiful rendition of Steve Wonder’s “Overjoyed,” as a bossa nova.
Abelita is currently also working on the arrangements of an only Tom Jobim’s compositions new album, with some of his fascinating music, to be released soon.
"Abelita Mateus has so many of the qualities that are important for any successful musician. Her piano artistry is remarkable, and she is a talented composer and vocalist. Abelita's intelligence and heart are also expressed through her music. She is part of the next generation of great Brazilian musicians. With all this talent, Abelita is someone to really keep your eyes on!
Romero Lubambo
"Abelita Mateus has, in abundance, those indispensables of the musicians’ craft: sensitivity, creativity, and a prodigious technique. Most of all, she sparkles with refreshment - and for a jazz musician to sound refreshing in 2017 is no ordinary thing!" John Lee
“On her second album, and her first self-produced effort, Abelita Mateus shows off an impressive ability to synthesize the sounds of her Brazilian home with jazz, the music that inspired her move to the States”.
Downbeat Magazine December 2018
"Playing with Abelita is a bliss. We had a great time bringing into life her beautiful composition "Saudades do Brasil," as well as re-interpreting Gilberto
Gil's famous "Amor até O Fim." Abelita's musicality is both delicate and thundering, and I consider "Vivenda" an album to be not only special but also important for this new generation of Brazilian Jazz"
Portinho
"Abelita Mateus is a young Brazilian musician who did the right thing: she came to the United States to attend music school, graduated, then decided to make the US her new home; her career is already blooming, and she is a talent that all of us should keep an eye on. Congratulations Abelita!"
Claudio Roditi
“Mateus is a first-rate vocalist and it is a shame she only sings on two offerings. She is gorgeously seductive on Djavan’s “A Ilha” and her elegant interpretation of Jobim’s “Bonita” once more showcases her special bond with Lubambo”. Elliott Simon- New York City Jazz Record
“Abelita Mateus’ rich cultural and musical background gives her playing a rare uncontrived soulfulness that is complete with artistic and emotional authenticity”.
Lorens Chuno
“The untranslatable saudades is at the heart of the ineffably beautiful and beckoning heart of this music by the pianist and vocalist Abelita Mateus. Miss Mateus is the epitome of Paulista-cool and this is especially reflected in the four contributions that she brings to this remarkable date”.
Raul da Gama
“Throughout this charming date, Mateus demonstrates — through her writing, arranging, vocalizing and piano skills — that she is a certified talent on the rise”. Mark Holston
Abelita and Hermeto Pascoal Hermeto Pascoal Concert with the Banda Jazz Sinfônica de Diadema. December 2011.
Vinicius Dorin and Abelita Vinicius Dorin Concert with the Banda Sinfônica de Diadema. March 2011.
Chameleon Group performing at the Bergen Performing Arts Center. April 2015.
Abelita and Hermeto Pascoal Hermeto Pascoal Concert with the Banda Jazz Sinfônica de Diadema. December 2011.
ABOUT
Pianist and singer from São Paulo, Brazil, Abelita Mateus is passionate about Brazilian music and Jazz. She began classical piano studies in her teens, and gradually developed a passion for jazz, which brought her to the U.S. to pursue her Master in Jazz Performance at William Paterson University. In Brazil she performed with such great artists as Vinicius Dorin, Raul de Souza and Hermeto Pascoal.
