To mark the 50th year the Barbican is getting together three generations of musicians; João Donato, Joyce and Clara Morena will all be performing on May 26th.

Some may dispute Bossa nova’s exact age but there is no doubt that the release of João Gilberto’s recording of Jobim’s ‘Chegar de Saudades’, 50 years ago, was a momentous occasion. Soon its samba inspired guitar shuffle, jazz and classic music influenced harmonies and the gentle, understated tone would became the staples of Brazilian music.

A special concert featuring three generations of Bossa artists marking 50 years since the seminal João Gilberto recording of Jobim’s Chega de Saudade, which marked the beginning of the Bossa Nova movement. One of the most influential of all popular music movements, Bossa Nova arose out of a striking constellation of talent based in Rio in the late 1950s. Composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, lyricist Vinicius de Moraes and guitarist Luiz Bonfa and João Gilberto all found themselves drawn to similar sensibilities - harmonies influences by jazz and classical music, sophisticated lyrics and musical understatement - underpinned by a unique rhythmic guitar shuffle, abstracted from traditional Samba.

The full line-up includes Carlos Lyra, João Donato, Roberto Menescal, Dori Caymmi, Vinicius Cantuária, Celso Fonseca, Joyce with more acts to be announced.

Guitarist, singer and composer Carlos Lyra, and pianist-composer João Donato were part of the early pioneers of Bossa. Lyra, responsible with US saxophonist Paul Winter for two of the classic , The Sound of Ipanema and Rio, also composed the enduring songs Coisa Mais Linda and Maria Ninguém. Donato transposed the Bossa style to the piano and became known for his elegant, jazzy improvisations.

Roberto Menescal, another member of the 50s generation, is a multi-instrumentalist, arranger and composer who settled in Rio de Janeiro and founded a guitar academy with Carlos Lyra. The co-writer of early Bossa anthem O Barquinho, he also gave lessons to singer and ‘muse of Bossa Nova’ Nara Leão. Dori Caymmi, son of Salvadorian songwriting legend Dorival, is a transitional figure between Bossa and MPB and author of great songs like Saveiros.

Curating the evening is Joyce, who in her frequent visits has done more than any other musician to keep the Bossa flame burning in the UK and introduce the sound and feel to a new generation of listeners - as well as dancers. Her daughter, rising star Clara Moreno, will also appear as well as two other figures representing a newer, more open-ended approach to the form.

Guitarist and singer Vinicius Cantuaria, born in Amazonas but now based in New York, has melded Bossa with contemporary experimental rock to great effect. His new album is Cymbals (Naïve Records). Rio-born singer Celso Fonseca, who’s first major job was playing guitar with Gilberto Gil, has gone on to work with many of the greatest artists of Brazilian MPB and release a string of largely self-composed solo albums, one of which, 2002’s Slow Motion Bossa, received three Grammy nominations.

Alongside the concert the documentary ‘Bossa Brasil, The Music From Ipanema - the Bossa Nova Story’ will also be screened.

www.barbican.org.uk