Brings together
A musical encounter between worlds, like winds crossing oceans and continents, referring to the music drifting in from Brazil and meeting the Nordic tones, creating a sense of something airy, elegant, jazzy, bossa-like, and acoustic.
The ensemble performs Brazilian instrumental music (MIB), often referred to as Brazilian jazz, encompassing styles such as samba, choro, baião, and samba-canção. The repertoire includes works by composers such as Hermeto Pascoal, Tom Jobim, David Feldman, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Arismar do Espírito Santo, and Moacir Santos, alongside original compositions.
Brazilian Crosswinds brings together these rich experiences in a vibrant and expressive musical collaboration, rooted in Brazilian instrumental traditions and shaped by a modern concept.
The band
Mats Andersson (guitar) graduated from the Malmö Academy of Music in 1998 and has been a senior lecturer there since 2001. He is a leading figure in Sweden within the Brazilian music tradition, both as a performer and educator. Through extensive travels to Brazil, he has developed a deep connection with its musical culture, collaborating with some of the country’s most prominent musicians. Mats has performed internationally across Europe, Japan, and the USA, and has worked with artists including Miriam Aida, Joyce Moreno, Mimi Terris, Vitor Casagrande, Luis Barcelos, Marco Pereira, Magnus Lindgren, and Rosalia de Souza.
Samuel Pompeo is an exceptional and highly accomplished wind player, holding a PhD in music from the University of Aveiro (Portugal) and UNESP (Brazil). He will be in Denmark from February 16–22, 2026, to perform with the ensemble. Samuel has recorded and performed with leading figures in Brazilian and international music, including Jane Duboc, Elba Ramalho, Gilberto Gil, Jon Anderson (Yes), Alice Cooper, Toquinho, Maria Rita, Jair Rodrigues, Ivan Lins, and Gal Costa. He has also appeared with major Brazilian orchestras and at festivals throughout Europe and Brazil. With the Samuel Pompeo Quintet, he explores Brazilian traditions such as choro, samba, and baião, blending them with jazz and contemporary concert music.
Jesper Hedegaard is an award-winning pianist and composer with over five decades of experience performing Brazilian music. He lived and worked in Brazil for 12 years, collaborating with some of the country’s most renowned musicians, including Miúcha, Zezé Motta, and members of bands associated with Djavan, João Bosco, and Ivan Lins. In 1987, he received the Troféu Caymmi in Salvador, Bahia, in recognition of his work. His 2012 album Time to Change received critical acclaim, and his latest release, Frutos do Nagé, was issued in April 2025.
BIO – True dedication
Jesper Hedegaard is a pianist, composer, producer, and bandleader, and one of Denmark’s most dedicated interpreters of Brazilian music. Since the mid-1970s, he has worked extensively within the genre, developing a rare and authentic connection to its cultural and musical roots—most notably through 12 years as a resident musician in Brazil.
Jesper Hedegaard has performed internationally and collaborated with a wide range of Brazil’s most renowned musicians, including Miúcha, Zezé Motta, and members of bands associated with Djavan and Ivan Lins. In 1987, he was awarded the Troféu Caymmi in Salvador, Bahia, in recognition of his work.
His performances are characterized by intensity, musicality, and a strong connection with the audience. With a repertoire spanning bossa nova, samba, choro, and baião, he builds a bridge between tradition and the present, creating a vibrant live experience.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
A lifelong immersion in Brazilian music has shaped Jesper Hedegaard as a pianist, composer, bandleader, and producer.
In 1987, he was awarded the prestigious Troféu Caymmi in Salvador, Bahia, in recognition of his artistic work.
For more than five decades, Jesper has performed Brazilian music alongside many of Brazil’s leading musicians across Brazil, Portugal, and Denmark. He spent 12 years living in Brazil, working as a performing pianist, and has collaborated with a wide range of renowned artists, including Miúcha, Zezé Motta, and musicians associated with Djavan and Ivan Lins.
Since 1976, Jesper Hedegaard has led an extensive cultural exchange initiative, bringing more than 100 Brazilian musicians and artists to Denmark. He has also produced major events such as Festival Brasil in 1994 and 2001 and organized more than ten national tours in Denmark.
His international career has taken him to stages in Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the United States. He has performed at prominent events including the Copenhagen Jazz Festival and the European Festival in Coimbra, Portugal.
In addition to performing, Jesper has taught Brazilian music at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory (RMC) and MGK in Denmark, as well as at university and jazz school in Lisbon.
In 2012, he released the album Time to Change with the Jesper Hedegaard Trio, which received an outstanding review from Jens Lohmann in Jazz Special.
In April 2025, he released Frutos do Nagé in collaboration with Dominique. The album was met with highly positive reviews, reaffirming the artistic maturity, contemporary relevance, and lasting significance of his work.
PHOTOS
Click on the image to see it in high resolution and right click to download.
VIDEOS
Reencontro by Jesper Hedegaard
Parangaba by Adriano Giffoni
TECH SPEC
GET IN TOUCH
For bookings or general enquiries get in touch using the form or direct email
mail(@)jesperhedegaard.dk