Ian Faquini writes exquisitely sophisticated Brazilian pop music in the omnivorous tradition known as MPB (música popular brasileira), which has often been deeply influenced by jazz. Born in Brasília and raised in Berkeley, Faquini is a protégé of Guinga, the revered Brazilian guitarist and songwriter whose tunes have been recorded by dozens of MPB stars. In 2014, Faquini released his debut album with flautist Rebecca Kleinmann, Brasiliense, and followed up with 2016’s Metal na Madeira, a collaboration with acclaimed Minas Gerais vocalist Paula Santoro. Since then Faquini has focused on his partnership with trombonist, vocalist, and lyricist Natalie Cressman, with whom he was a finalist for duo of the year in 2023’s Jazz Journalists Association Critics Poll. They’ve recorded three albums, 2019’s Setting Rays of Summer, 2022’s Auburn Whisper, and the soon-to-be released Guinga, a tribute that features the maestro on five tracks. With a singular set of skills, highly personal compositional style, and lush harmonic palette, Faquini is one of the Bay Area’s most respected guitarists.