“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 two sold out amazing shows, 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 has performed at international venues such as the Blue Note New York, The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival in Los Angeles, Yoshi’s Jazz Club in San Francisco, 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., Yoshi’s in Oakland, CA, Bird’s Basement, Melbourne, Australia, 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, besides 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