Alexia Bomtempo was raised in the beach culture of Rio de Janeiro, while traveling to America frequently over the years. She grew up listening to Brazilian popular music and Bossa Nova, as well as rock, folk and jazz. Since relocating back to New York City, the Brazilian-American singer-songwriter has fully embraced, challenged, and redefined the Northern half of her American artistic roots. Equally comfortable wandering amidst hazy memory-inducing soundscapes as she is in delivering flowing melodies influenced by her beachside upbringing in Rio de Janeiro, Alexia is an artist of of multiple worlds.
Her tribute to Caetano Veloso, I Just Happen to Be Here, was called a “hauntingly beautiful collection” (Village Voice). BlackBook called her album Chasing Storms and Stars “a deeply poignant meditation on lost love”. The jazz-meets-bossa-nova-flavored Suspiro (Ropeadope) was released to critical acclaim. NPR named it “one of the best albums of the year”; Jazziz said it was “timeless”; American Songwriter defined it as “an exploratory journey.”
The “top-shelf Brazilian jazz musician” (Washington Post) is working with GRAMMY Award-nominated pianist Orrin Evans on the Brazilian inspired jazz ensemble Terreno Comum. They have appeared at this year’s DC Jazz Festival and Exit Zero Jazz Festival.
Alexia Bomtempo’s new album Doce Carnaval is a love letter to the timeless soundtrack of Brazilian Carnaval to be released August 5 on Ropeadope.
Filmed live at Joe's Pub on August 4, 2022.