Esdras Nogueira

“Isso é Jazz?! – Esdras Nogueira e Grupo Ao Vivo” is the sixth solo album by Brazilian saxophonist and cultural producer Esdras Nogueira, recorded live with his quintet. A member of Móveis Coloniais de Acaju and a prominent figure in Brazil’s contemporary instrumental music scene, Esdras presents a repertoire of original compositions driven by the distinctive sound of his baritone saxophone. Blending Brazilian rhythms, afrobeat, and the improvisational language of jazz, the album is built on strong grooves, melodic clarity, and collective interplay. The quintet—Marcus Moraes (guitar), Vavá Afiouni (bass), Thiago Cunha (drums), and Thanise Silva (flute)—operates with a high level of interaction, shaping arrangements that move between written material and improvisation. Tracks such as Cucumber, Capim Santo | Aleluia, and Quase Balada highlight different dimensions of Esdras’s compositional work, combining rhythmic drive with expressive phrasing. Recorded in front of a live audience, the album captures the energy of the band on stage and reflects the vitality of Brazilian instrumental music today.