Both Sides of the Equator with The Joe Carter Samba Rio Trio

Live, In-Person & on Zoom:

“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

“One can feel that Joe Carter plays only to create beauty.” - Francois Postiff, France

The Joe Carter Samba Rio Trio, led by guitarist Joe Carter, 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 known as Samba Jazz, a sound that blends the best of both worlds. In other words: the best of Music from “Both Sides of the Equator”.

Joe Carter (guitar) is currently the Director of the Academic Music Program at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Joe has performed, taught, recorded and, occasionally, lived in Brazil. He has recorded and performed with Jazz artists such as Art Farmer, Lee Koniz, and Cecil Payne. This, combined with performances and teaching in other places around the world - India, Germany, France - have helped him 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.

Jeff Fuller (bass) has toured worldwide and recorded with saxophonists Lou Donaldson and Paquito D’Rivera. He has played with jazz masters from all styles and eras including such diverse artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Mose Allison, “Papa” Jo Jones, Gerry Mulligan, and Clark Terry. In 2014, he was presented with the annual Jazz Haven Award, “For all you have done in presenting and preserving the culture and music of jazz”

Jerrod Cattey (drums) holds his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from Western Connecticut State University. While attending WCSU he was the two-time recipient of the James Furman Award, which is presented to the student who best exemplifies the highest level of musical performance ability, scholastic standing, and contributions to the music department. He has studied drum set with Jeff Siegel, Dom Famularo, and Justin Foley, as well as classical percussion with Dave Smith and Brazilian percussion with José Mauricio de Faria and Daniel Oliveira.