Singer, songwriter and guitarist are three roles Brazilian guitarist João Bosco has consistently and successfully juggled with for over 40 years.

Born in the land-locked region of Minas Gerias, Bosco’s move to Rio de Janeiro, instigated by his first co-writer Vinicius de Moraes, brought him in touch with various new elements; primarily the sea, but also bossa nova and musicians Tom Jobim, Chico Buarque and many other important Brazilian artists.

He eventually met poet Aldir Blanc, with whom Bosco wrote a vast repertoire of songs, most of them now revered as classics of Brazilian popular music.

A versatile musician and dynamic performer, Bosco has never shied away from dabbling with different genres, and his extensive body of recorded work – over 20 albums stretching as far back as the early 1970s – has featured shades of pop, rock, soul, Arab and Afro-American music as well as core signature Latin and jazz styles.

Bosco is renowned for his right-hand technique, which lends a particular rhythmic sheen to his music, while his soulful vocal timbre has also been praised by critics for its depth and expression, with some commenting that he “sings Brazil’s melodies with the blood of African slaves and weeps melodic songs of his Lebanese ancestors”.

The overall mixture of ethnic flavours and imported elements has been vital in earning Bosco a reputation as an all-round eclectic artist who, despite the diversity, instills a personal touch in his music.

João Bosco, accompanied by Ricardo Silveira, João Baptista and Kiko Freitas will perform at the Malta Jazz Festival 2011 on July 15.

www.maltajazzfestival.org