Beginning his study of the saxophone with the late, great Paulo Moura, Senise has gone on to to record and perform extensively with a “who’s who” of Brazil’s highest level of instrumental musicians: Hermeto Pascoal; Egberto Gismonti; Wagner Tiso; Luis Eça; Romero Lubambo; Gilson Perannzetta; as well as recording 6 CDs with his own group, Cama de Gato. Mauro’s latest solo CD/DVD, “Afetivo,” celebrates his 40th year as a performer, and several of his former bosses were delighted to participate in the project, including Egberto, Hermeto, Gilson, and Edu Lobo.

Harvey Wainapel has performed and/or recorded with top-level Brazilian musicians such as Guinga, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Jovino Santos Neto, Nelson Ayres, Filó Machado, and Paulo Bellinati. His jazz experience has included stints with Ray Charles, Joe Lovano, as well as extensive activity as a bandleader. Brazil’s major newspaper O Globo, reviewing a live performance in Rio de Janeiro, writes “Wainapel displayed incredible intimacy with the language of Brazilian music, and great stage presence.”

Harvey and Mauro met in 2000, during Harvey’s first annual visit to Brazil, and they have been jamming in Rio every visit since then; their shared love of Brazilian music and jazz has led to a wide-ranging repertoire of both genres, which will be visited at Avonova with the expert presence of Brazilian guitarist Ricardo Peixoto and Bay Area bass hero Peter Barshay!