Diego Figueiredo & Friends - A Masterclass In Connection

South Florida Sun Times

Jan 28, 2026

There’s Something Instantly Striking About A Diego Figueiredo & Friends' Performance. No Dramatic Entrance, No Rigid Staging — And Four World-Class Musicians Settling Naturally Into A Series Of Jazz Duets That Will Eventually Reveal The Heart Of The Night: Connection. As Diego Figueiredo Leads, His Curls Catching The Light, Guitar Resting Easily In His Hands, He Plays With A Fluidity So Natural That Bossa Nova, Jazz, And Classical Influences Weave Together As Effortlessly As Conversation. Within Minutes, Audiences Find Themselves Leaning In, Drawn By The Sense That Something Genuine Is Unfolding In Real Time. Join Us On Wednesday, February 4nd, 2026 At Broward Center For The Performing Arts In Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Figueiredo's openness is a defining part of his artistry. A Grammy®-nominated guitarist praised by George Benson as “one of the greatest guitarists I’ve seen in my whole life,” he carries his technical brilliance with a sense of ease. There is no flash for its own sake — only clarity, warmth, and the instinct to listen as deeply as he plays. He has long been celebrated for making a single guitar sound like an entire musical landscape, yet his presence feels humble, inviting.

For this Gold Coast Jazz presentation, Diego is joined by three trusted musical partners, each bringing a distinct voice into the mix. Jazz flutist Nestor Torres shapes the air with lyricism; pianist Shelly Berg adds harmonic richness and intuitive responsiveness; and percussionist Sammy Figueroa provides texture, spark, and rhythmic lift. Together, they create an environment where ideas move freely — a phrase here and a rhythmic cue there. It’s a detail Gold Coast Jazz audiences will appreciate, as it signals the intimacy, spontaneity, and interplay that define their favorite performances.

Says Diego, “The Brazilian feeling is always in my right hand, no matter what style I’m playing. In concert, when I’m free, I let jazz, bossa nova, and classical flow together.” In this setting where duets are interchanged, that blend can become more vivid. A warm bossa gesture might melt into a jazz-driven exchange; a classical turn may spark a new melodic direction. The genres don’t collide — they coexist, guided by instinct and shaped by connection.

Often seen as an informal ambassador of Brazilian music, Figueiredo brings mastery and generosity, making the music feel shared rather than delivered. With his friends beside him, the “duets” will become the engine of the evening — a space where listening leads, and connection drives every note. Diego Figueiredo & Friends reminds us that the most unforgettable music is created together.

Join us on Wednesday, February 4th, 2025, at Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at 7:45 p.m., to see a masterclass in connection. Tickets at: www.goldcoastjazz.org.

The Gold Coast Jazz Society

The Gold Coast Jazz Society is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of jazz music through a mainstage concert series, free community concerts, educational programs, a jazz scholarship program, and musical services provided by the Gold Coast Jazz Society Band.

Visit our website to continue your journey in jazz at: www.goldcoastjazz.org!

Funding for this organization is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council. Concert sponsors include the Helen Ingham Foundation, the Richard Ingham Concert Fund, the Mary N. Porter Funds/Community Foundation of Broward, United Community and Funding Arts Broward.