JACQUES FIGUERAS is vibrant with his enthusiasm for Brazilian jazz. He speaks to Miriam Galea about his band Botafogo and his life in Sao Paulo

“I discovered Brazilian music about 13 years ago when I was asked to play with a Brazilian singer. I was then living in Lyon in France. He called me on Friday to play with him on Saturday! I had no idea how to play Brazilian music but I started to listen to CDs and little by little I fell in love with it,” musician Jacques Figueras tells me. Jacques is currently in Malta to perform with his band Botafogo in Café Brazil, a Fringe! Productions event. Jacques sounds like a restless fellow, with plenty of joie de vivre and passion for fun and music. Having started playing jazz in Paris, which, according to him is a city where cultures cross, he won a Fulbright grant to study in New York City and then followed his heart by travelling through Brazil to truly feel the rhythm of Brazilian music.

“Jazz to me is the music of freedom,” Jacques says, “But also freedom not to play jazz! What I mean is that jazz doesn't have to be Bebop or straight jazz, but what you want it to sound like. It's improvisation; it’s an attitude.” After travelling through North East Brazil for a couple of years, Jacques went to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in 2004 and now thinks it is “the best place in the world”.

“Sao Paulo is the economic and cultural capital of Brazil,” he says, “While Rio de Janeiro is full of beaches and wonderful sambas, it's hard to maintain oneself financially. But all the Brazilians meet in Sao Paulo, the best musicians from the north and from the south, and a lot of people from all over the world. I was afraid that I would miss Paris’s multiculturalism but I don’t.” Most of all, Jacques is in love with the Brazilian people. Botafogo is actually the name of one of Jacques’s favourite Brazilian neighbourhoods and literally it means ‘to put on fire’. The band and its upcoming album which will be released in November is a tribute to Brazilian musician and composer Hermeto Pascoal. “He is famous for his crazy arrangements, sometimes mixing music, people talking and animal sounds!” Jacques says enthusiastically, “I got into Hermeto's music when I was in New York studying jazz at the New School, and realised that it would be the perfect way to mix my two passions for jazz and Brazilian music. His tunes offer a perfect mix of Brazilian rhythms with interesting chord changes that are a great pick up for improvisations.”

Maltese jazz musician Sandro Zerafa, who is also living in Paris, is one of the members of the band. “The musicians playing with me are my friends first of all, and possibly also the best musicians in Paris with whom to play this music. I met Sandro through a common friend, a French drummer, at a party - where he was playing some Brazilian music by the way.”

Jacques, who also lived in Paris, is not the biggest fan of the city, as although it is a centre for musicians from all over the world, it is hard to make a living. He compares it to New York, which is also expensive. “I was always broke in New York but I really had the feeling I was in the best place in the word! Somehow I don't get that feeling in Paris. Studying in New York was one of the best periods in my life! I learned so much; my teachers were amazing. When I was studying there I did nothing but play music – went to Central Park only once and never saw the Statue of Liberty. I was crazy or, let's say, focused.”

However, now Jacques is really happy in Sao Paolo and intends to involve Brazilian music into all of his projects. “The most important thing for me is to have fun and be proud of what I’m doing, and show it to everyone!” he says, “I do my best to keep updated with what is going on in music. I always try to remember why I started to play in the first place. I want to be amazed, always. I go to wonderful concerts and I understand that that is what I want to do - give people emotion.”

Jacques Figueras and his band Botafogo will be playing tonight in Café Brazil at the MITP in Valletta at 8.30pm. For tickets call St James Cavalier on 2122 3216. This event is being presented by Fringe! Productions in association with Cisk Export.