Claudette Soares

Claudette Soares is a foundational figure in the development of Bossa Nova and MPB (Música Popular Brasileira). Emerging from the radio era of the 1940s, she successfully transitioned into the burgeoning Bossa Nova scene of the late 1950s, eventually becoming known as the 'Dona da Bossa' (Owner of Bossa).

Her career is a bridge between the traditional samba-canção style and the modern, jazz-influenced sounds of the 1960s. She was instrumental in bringing the Rio-centric Bossa Nova sound to São Paulo, where she became a fixture of the legendary João Sebastião Bar. Her collaborations are a 'who's who' of Brazilian music history, including pivotal work with César Camargo Mariano and Pedrinho Mattar. Critically, she is lauded for her technical precision and her role as a tastemaker who introduced audiences to then-unknown composers like Gonzaguinha. Her discography, spanning over 40 releases, serves as a historical document of the evolution of Brazilian vocal jazz, maintaining a high standard of sophisticated arrangement and intimate performance that remains influential to contemporary jazz vocalists.