Zé Ibarra

Line-up:
Zé Ibarra – vocals, guitar, piano
Thomas Harres – drums
Frederico Heliodoro – bass
João Oliveira – guitar
Eduardo Cardinho – keys

Zé Ibarra comes to Cosmopolite on June 3 with AFIM — his second solo album and a clear new chapter in his career.

On AFIM, Zé Ibarra moves away from an intimate, acoustic guitar-based expression and into a more layered and physical soundscape. MPB, jazz, pop and progressive elements come together in music that is more direct, more visual and more instinctive. The album features both original compositions and reinterpretations of Brazilian songwriters, and stands as a meeting point between Ibarra’s different musical sides — from the quiet and personal to the dense and collectively driven.

Zé Ibarra is a key figure in the new wave of Brazilian music. He first gained recognition as the frontman of the band Dônica, before establishing himself as a solo artist with his debut album Marquês, 256. In 2022, he co-founded Bala Desejo, a project bringing together some of the most distinctive voices of his generation, which later won a Latin Grammy. Alongside this, he has collaborated closely with leading figures in Brazilian music, including Milton Nascimento.

Live, AFIM is presented with a strong band of musicians Ibarra has worked with over many years. The concert moves seamlessly between intimate passages and powerful arrangements with a clear groove, horns, strings and rhythmic drive. This is contemporary Brazilian music that both challenges and invites — personal, precise and alive.

The evening opens and closes with DJ sets and Brazilian music curated by Anja Bajer.