Los Angeles Guitar Quartet with Luciana Souza

World music will descend upon UNC Asheville as the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ) and Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza take the Lipinsky stage at 8 p.m. Friday, April 13. Recognized as one of America’s premier instrumental ensembles, the LAGQ joins jazz artist Souza to explore a blend of contemporary jazz and world music. A discussion with the performers will follow the concert.

The Grammy Award-winning quartet has spent the past 25 years and 11 recordings extracting music from a variety of stylistic and cultural perspectives to provide a fresh look at traditional music. The LAGQ has performed in many of the world’s top venues, ranging from Chicago’s Orchestra Hall to Tokyo Opera City, and were featured performers at the first World Guitar Congress. The Los Angeles Times calls LAGQ “one of the wonders of the chamber music scene rooted in the West. It boasts intricate arrangements, all-for-one empathy and repertoire-stretching adventurism.”

LAGQ is joined by Souza, a three-time Grammy nominee and the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2005 Female Jazz Singer of the Year. Considered one of Brazil’s leading singers, Souza grew up in a family of Bossa Nova innovators who performed and wrote numerous hit tunes for stars like Joao Gilberto and Elis Regina. Her early childhood was influenced by the frequent jam sessions and weekend visits of stars of the day such as Milton Nascimento and Hermeto Pascoal. Souza began her recording career at three years old with a radio commercial and has since recorded more than 200 jingles and soundtracks. As a solo artist, she has released six albums and has participated in more than 30 recordings lead by countless jazz greats and currently teaches at Manhattan School of Music.

Tickets are $24 general admission and $6 for local students with ID. Student tickets must be purchased in person. To reserve tickets by phone, call the UNC Asheville Box Office at 828/232-5000. General admission tickets may also be purchased with cash or check at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St., downtown Asheville.

For more information about the performance or the Cultural & Special Events season, call 828/251-6227 or click on www.unca.edu/culturalarts/.