Nouvelle Cuisine

Origin

São Paulo, SP

Years active

1987–2001

Genres

jazz, bossa nova, mpb

Instruments

vibraphone, drums, double bass, piano, clarinet, guitar, vocals

Biography

Nouvelle Cuisine is a Brazilian jazz band originating from São Paulo, which gained national projection starting in 1987 thanks to its approach to musical experimentalism. Initially dedicated to traditional acoustic jazz by established names such as Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, the group recorded this repertoire on their self-titled debut album released in 1988.

In the 1990s, the ensemble began incorporating elements and classics of Brazilian popular music into their productions, as evidenced on the 1991 album Slow Food, produced by Oscar Castro-Neves and featuring major MPB collaborations such as Gal Costa and exclusive compositions by Caetano Veloso. This transition to genuinely national sounds deepened in subsequent albums, culminating in reinterpretations of icons like Dorival Caymmi, Chico Buarque, and Djavan.

With lineup changes over the years, including the departure of double bassist F. Mancini and the passing of vocalist Carlos Fernando in 2019, the band later adopted the simplified name Nouvelle. The group continued to explore eclectic repertoires that moved between bossa nova, jazz, and the work of composers like Edu Lobo and Ismael Silva.