Join us for an exploration of new and exciting music. Based in New York, the duo of Sofia Rei and JC Maillard will perform two shows in Jacksonville. One in Springfield, the other in Jacksonville Beach. Rei, Argentinian-born, studied classical voice in Argentina, moving to the United States to study jazz at the New England Conservatory of Music. Her musical partner, JC Maillard, invented a brand new instrument called the SazBass, based off of a Turkish lute.

Join us for an intimate evening of musical exploration in Spanish, Portuguese, and English.

Blurbs from Wikipedia:

Sofia Rei is an Argentinian vocalist, songwriter, producer, and educator. A classically trained mezzo-soprano, Rei's influences include South American folk styles, jazz, pop, new classical and electronic music. Singing in Spanish, English and Portuguese, her voice was described by The Boston Globe as "possessing a voluptuously full voice, comprehensive command of Latin American rhythms, and encyclopedic knowledge of folkloric forms from Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and Uruguay." She was born and raised in Buenos Aires and has been based in New York since 2005.

Her musical interests extended beyond the classical world, however, and she led "a double life" as a "properly educated classical singer during the day and everything else at night." At 19, she was exposed to jazz for the first time and began to learn about vocal improvisation, frequently working with young composers and exploring ways to use her voice as she premiered their new works. Fully immersed in improvised music and jazz, Rei decided to come to the United States to continue her education. In 2001, she moved to Boston to study jazz and improvisation at the New England Conservatory of Music. 

She began to study music at 4, and as a child she sang with vocal groups and school choirs. She began her professional career at nine as a member of the Colón Teatro Children's Choir, and later joined Argentina's National Children's Choir at Teatro Nacional Cervantes.

In 2008, she sang with Bobby McFerrin in Instant Opera, a piece commissioned by John Zorn, at Carnegie Hall.

• Jazz Journalists Association Top Ten Records of 2006
• Latin Jazz Corner, Best Latin Jazz Vocalist of 2009
• Independent Music Award, World Beat, Best Album (2009)
• Independent Music Award, World Beat, Best Album (2013)
• Independent Music Award, World Beat, Best Song (2013)
• Independent Music Award, Best Concept Album (2018)