Unpretentious, yet full of charm. That’s how the Rio das Ostras Instrumental Project was born — a series of monthly performances held in 2001 and 2002 on the beaches of the seaside town of Rio das Ostras. The warm reception from the public and the increase in the number of tourists visiting the city on show days inspired local public officials to create a bolder event. The chosen path was to invest in a high-quality program that would appeal to local audiences while also boosting tourism. What initially aimed to bring quality music to the local community grew and evolved into the Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues Festival.

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The 1st Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues Festival took place in 2003, featuring performances by Nuno Mindelis, Blues Etílicos, Baseado em Blues, Yamandú Costa, and Kenny Brown, among others. The festival drew large crowds to the jam sessions and to the stages set up on the beaches of Costazul, Tartaruga, and Mar do Norte. It was the beginning of it all.

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In 2004, the 2nd Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues brought together international stars such as Stanley Jordan, Jane Monheit, and Big Time Sarah, along with renowned Brazilian artists including Yamandú Costa, Romero Lubambo, Naná Vasconcellos, Sérgio Dias, and Márcio Montarroyos, among others. In this edition, the Festival gained an additional stage at Praia do Cemitério and received significant media coverage.

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At its third edition, in 2005, the Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues consolidated its prominent position on Brazil’s music scene. A selection of today’s finest instrumentalists and performers took the stage at venues set up in Costazul, Praia da Tartaruga, and Lagoa de Iriry. The concert program brought together internationally acclaimed artists such as Magic Slim, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Richard Bona, Eddie C. Campbell, Nnenna Freelon, and Kenny Garrett; leading names in Brazilian jazz — Egberto Gismonti, Wagner Tiso, Ithamara Koorax, and Vitor Biglione — as well as representatives of Brazilian blues, including Celso Blues Boy, Big Joe Manfra, Jefferson Gonçalves, and Sérgio Duarte. Also in 2005, the City of Jazz and Blues was created in Costazul — a space that became home to the main stage, photo exhibitions and biographies of some of the most important musicians in the genres, a food court with four restaurants, a large side screen broadcasting the concerts live, and a sales point for CDs, magazines, and T-shirts. According to official estimates, 12,000 people attended the festival that year.

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The 4th edition of the Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues, in 2006, brought something new in addition to the concerts on the stages at Costazul, Tartaruga, and Lagoa de Iriry. The Dixie Square Jazz Band paraded through the city’s main spots, performing New Orleans jazz standards. The lineup featured outstanding artists such as Richard Bona, James Carter, Wallace Roney, Charlie Musselwhite — with the participation of Flávio Guimarães — T.S. Monk, Eddy Clearwater, Banda Mantiqueira, Léo Gandelman, Marcos Suzano, Prado Blues Band, and Fernando Noronha & Black Soul. In its 5th edition, the Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues presented both renowned musicians and representatives of a new generation.

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The 2007 lineup featured Robben Ford, Stefon Harris, Ravi Coltrane, Soulive, Michael Hill, and Roy Rogers. Among the Brazilian attractions were Hamilton de Holanda, Dom Salvador, Luciana Souza, Romero Lubambo, Naná Vasconcelos, and Big Gilson.

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The 6th Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues delighted audiences with icons such as John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. The program also featured John Scofield, James “Blood” Ulmer, Vernon Reid — leader of Living Colour — Will Calhoun, Regina Carter, Russell Malone, Bonerama, and The Godfathers of Groove — formed by Reuben Wilson, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, and Grant Green Jr. — with a special appearance by Léo Gandelman. Among the Brazilian acts were Blues Etílicos, Mauro Senise Quartet, Taryn, Dudu Lima, Marcos Suzano, Jean-Pierre Zanella, Robson Fernandes Blues Band, and Delicatessen.

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The 7th Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues showcased a healthy eclecticism of styles and generations: Spyro Gyra, John Hammond, Coco Montoya, and Jason Miles shared the lineup with the modernity and experimentation of groups such as The Bad Plus — one of the leading bands of the Jam Band movement — and Rudder, considered by critics the most progressive and innovative group to emerge on the music scene in recent years since Medeski, Martin & Wood. The Brazilian acts reflected the diversity and quality of our music: pianist Ari Borger; the guitar duo Duofel — with special guest percussionist Fábio Pascoal; harmonica player Jefferson Gonçalves; the group Pau Brasil; and the Big Time Orchestra.

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In its 8th edition, the Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues treated audiences to memorable performances: Ron Carter, accompanied by Russell Malone and Mulgrew Miller; Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers; The Michael Landau Group; Raul de Souza and his band; Stanley Jordan; Armandinho Macedo; and T.M. Stevens, who—joined by Cindy Blackman, Delmar Brown, and Blackbyrd McKnight—captivated the crowd with his contagious energy. This edition also maintained the boldness and democratic spirit that transformed the Festival into one of the largest events of its kind in Brazil and worldwide, by opening space for emerging Brazilian jazz and blues talents on a new stage at Praça São Pedro, in downtown Rio das Ostras. O 9º Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues trouxe o trio Medeski, Martin & Wood, acompanhado pelo saxofonista Bill Evans; Roberto Fonseca, Nicholas Payton, a banda de eletro-jazz acústico Yellowjackets, Jose James, Jane Monheit, Bryan Lee, Saskia Laroo e Tommy Castro Band. O Brasil foi (muito) bem representado por Igor Prado, Nuno Mindelis, Ricardo Silveira, Azimuth e Leo Gandelman.  

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In 2012, the Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues celebrated its 10th anniversary with performances that had marked previous editions, such as those by Mike Stern and Romero Lubambo, Michael Hill, Celso Blues Boy, and Roy Rogers — considered the most electrifying blues show in the festival’s history. The festival also brought new acts to its stages, including pianist Kenny Barron, saxophonist David Sanborn, guitarist Duke Rubillard, drummer Billy Cobham, Cameroonian bassist Armand Sabal-Lecco, and Brazilian artists Maurício Einhorn, Hélio Delmiro, and Cama de Gato. In terms of infrastructure, the 11th edition of Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues introduced upgrades to the Costazul stage, including improved accessibility for people with disabilities with special flooring and ramps, parking for motorhomes, and bicycle racks.

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In 2013, the estimated audience was 15,000 people per day. The Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues was also watched live online through the City Hall’s portal, with access recorded from around 40 countries — the highest number from the United States, followed by Argentina, Japan, France, and Portugal.

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The 12th edition of the Rio das Ostras Jazz & Blues, in 2014, featured Marcus Miller, Al Jarreau, Randy Brecker, HBC Super Trio — with Scott Henderson, Jeff Berlin, and Billy Cobham — Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Banda Jamz, Popa Chubby, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., Raul Midón, Larry McCray, The Jig, Pepeu Gomes, Carlos Malta and Pife Muderno, Adriano Grineberg, Afro Jazz, Badi Assad, Marcos Suzano, Rio Jazz Orchestra, and Taryn, with Toninho Horta. In addition to the live audience, the festival was watched via Web TV in 58 countries.

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We arrive with more energy and enthusiasm than ever for our 21st edition. Let’s celebrate life and great music in one of the most charming seaside towns in the country. The best from around the world in the best of Brazil, at a democratic festival that puts music first.