Sofia Almeida Group
Sofia Almeida Group
Human REVOLUTION: The music of Love, Nature, Spirituality and the Unknown
Sofia Almeida is a Portuguese vocalist, performer, and composer whose signature voice merges jazz, Luso-Brazilian influences, and contemporary music. In Dialogue with Wayne Shorter is an artistic inquiry focused on creating music that expresses her understanding of Maestro Wayne Shorter’s teachings through the pillars of Love, Nature, Spirituality, and the Unknown. It’s a creative reflection on how the ongoing influence of his music and philosophy impact her artistic and human development. At its core, the project practices music as a reflection of life, an essential principle in Shorter’s vision.
The group features pianist Yujin Jan, drummer Ben Fig, bassist Ian Ashby, and soprano saxophonist Samuel Batista. Formed through years of shared mentorship under jazz legends Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, and Joe Lovano at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, the ensemble brings together diverse cultural backgrounds and a unified artistic purpose. As rising voices in the global jazz scene, the quartet honors Wayne Shorter’s legacy by continuing his mission: using creativity as a tool to unlock human potential and imagine new possibilities for the future. The Sofia Almeida Group brings together musicians from across the globe: Sofia Almeida (voice), from Madeira Island, Portugal; pianist Yujin Jan from South Korea; drummer Ben Fig from New Jersey, USA; bassist Ian Ashby from Pittsburgh, USA; and soprano saxophonist Samuel Batista from Panama. United by years of shared mentorship under jazz legends Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, and Joe Lovano at the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, the ensemble embodies a truly global oneness. As rising artists in the global jazz scene, the quartet honors Wayne Shorter’s legacy by continuing his mission: to unlock human potential through creativity and to practice music as a reflection of life.
