Joyful and warm sounds from Cuba and Brazil of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s—an era when bolero and bossa nova gained worldwide popularity—spiced up with a touch of samba and son.

Estrella Acosta and Paulinho Paes first performed together in 2011 at the Brasil Festival in De Roode Bioscoop and stayed musically connected over the years. Paulinho, a São Paulo-born guitarist, met Estrella in Amsterdam while performing with Martin Fondse’s XLJazz Orchestra.

Born in Havana and raised in the Cuban countryside, Estrella feels equally at home singing Cuban and Brazilian music. Now that Paulinho is back in the Netherlands, the duo is seizing the opportunity to explore new musical horizons together.