September 26, 2025
The Joe Carter Samba Rio Trio
Joe Carter – guitar
Harvie S – bass
Graciliano Zambonin – drums
8:00 PM
The Arts at St. Matthew’s Concert Series
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
36 Canaan Road
Wilton, CT
Ticket info – https://www.stmatthewswilton.org/worship/music/aasm/
The Joe Carter Samba Rio Trio celebrates the music of Brazil – Samba, Bossa Nova, Choro, Baiao and more. Their repertoire features songs by Brazil’s classic composers such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Moacir Santos, Jacob do Bandolim, Luiz Bonfa, Pixinguinha, Baden Powell, Ary Barroso and others. The Trio takes things a step further by using their Jazz backgrounds to add Jazz improvisation into the tunes, creating a sound that blends the best of both worlds. In other words: the best of Music from “Both Sides of the Equator”.
Joe Carter – guitarist, educator, recording artist
Joe Carter is the Director of Academic Music Programs at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. Since 1988, Joe Carter has performed, taught, recorded and, occasionally lived, in Brazil. This, combined with performances and teaching in other places around the world – India, Germany, France – have helped him to use all these international experiences to form a sound and style based in “Samba Jazz”, a style that combines the improvisational nature of North American Jazz with the lyrical and rhythmical aspects of Brazilian Bossa Nova, Samba, Choro, Baiao and MPB.
Joe Carter has recorded and performed with Jazz artists such Art Farmer, Lee Konitz, Cecil Payne, Rufus Reid and others and with Brazilian artists such as Luiz Eca, Mauricio Einhorn, Robertinho Silva, Paulo Russo and others. In addition, he has recorded several CDs through the years, his most recent is Both Sides of the Equator, with bassist David Finck and percussionist Ze Mauricio.
Harvie S, bass
Throughout his illustrious career, Harvie S has collaborated with a plethora of jazz luminaries, leaving an indelible mark on the global jazz scene. His dynamic bass lines and innovative approach to rhythm have earned him widespread acclaim among critics and audiences alike.
Graciliano Zambonin, Drums
Graciliano is a Brazilian drummer and composer, who has settled in New York, contributing to the rich jazz-Brazilian percussion scene. He has recorded over 30 Albums.
Owen McNally (the Hartford Courant) says:
“A guitarist whose playing is graced with clarity and speech-like lines in his phrasing, Carter has chosen to express his embrace of both North and South America in an intimate trio setting. This chamber music format is ideal for Carter’s conversational, story-telling mode of playing. His artistic voice especially flourishes in the challenge of dialogue. Mutual exchanges act as a catalyst for his fresh ideas that unfold in clean, crisp, lyrical lines.”
“Listen carefully! If this kind of music ever disappears we are in trouble. Subtlety, especially on the guitar, is not especially in demand these days, but substance of the Carter variety is worth a lot more than all the others’ decibels.” – Owen Cordle, JAZZTIMES Magazine, U.S.A.
“His show is a gift to those who, tired of noise, want to listen to music played in a sensitive and intelligent way.” – Chico Nelson, JORNAL DO BRASIL, Brazil
“Subtle, elegant, dynamic, lyrical, WONDERFUL!” – THE AFTERNOON DESPATCH & COURIER, India
“One can feel that Joe Carter plays only to create beauty.” – Francois Postiff, France
