Henrique Mota – São Paulo After Dark
Entry Requirements: Under 16s are not permitted in the venue. Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
"From Blue Note Beijing to London: Brazilian pianist Henrique Mota blends São Paulo rhythms with modern jazz. One day only.
Some music asks you to lean in. In this intimate solo performance, Brazilian pianist Henrique Mota takes the stage with just a piano and an open mind. He draws on his new album Waning Moon, music he describes as "shaped by silence, space and transformation." Expect a night of light and shadow. Quiet, suspended moments give way to the lilting pulse of Brazil, and his own compositions sit beside reimagined Brazilian classics such as Cartola's "O Mundo É Um Moinho." It's a rare chance to hear a remarkable musician up close, with nothing between you and the music.
Born in Brazil and classically trained at the Fundação das Artes in São Caetano do Sul, Henrique has built a voice that connects contemporary jazz with Brazilian instrumental music. All About Jazz praised his "prodigious rhythmic talents" and called him "an artist on the rise."
He has performed and recorded with an impressive list of artists, including Brazilian guitar legend Toninho Horta, saxophonists Bob Mintzer, Seamus Blake, David Binney and Bob Franceschini, and Brazilian greats Filó Machado and Arismar do Espírito Santo. In 2024 he played the first São Paulo Jazz Weekend on a line-up with Dianne Reeves, Shai Maestro and Yamandu Costa.
His career has taken him from Brazil's leading jazz festivals to more than 20 concerts across China with the HII Trio, including the iconic Blue Note Beijing. In 2026 he toured Europe, playing the Bansko Jazz Festival in Bulgaria, and he is premiering a concert for piano and orchestra in Turin, Italy.
Now, for one intimate evening, it's just Henrique and the piano.
"Joyful and exuberant… a satisfying and convincing glimpse of an artist on the rise." All About Jazz