Music Spoke Here presents: Davide Giovannini’s Minas Project
The Marr’s Bar, 12 Pierpoint Street, Worcester WR1 1TA
Thursday 8th January 2026, 7:30pm doors for 8pm start
Worcestershire promoter Music Spoken Here start their 2026 program of jazz, funk and fusion at The Marr’s Bar with high energy, original Brazilian jazz in a tribute to the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, the home of renowned artists including Toninho Horta, Milton Nascimento, Beto Guedes and Lo Borges.
The Minas Project is led by Italian drummer, vocalist and composer Davide Giovannini, who made his Worcester debut in January 2025 when he appeared on the Music Spoken Here program with the band TRYPL. Giovannini is well known in the Latin music world, as the drummer in the legendary Snowboy and The Latin Section, also working with Toninho Horta, Alex Wilson, Marcos Valle and Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers. He is an in-demand session musician in the pop world too, with performance and recording credits including Steve Winwood, Lisa Stansfield, Pet Shop Boys, Paul McCartney and Björk.
Joining Giovannini in making a return to The Marr’s Bar are saxophonist and flautist Paul Booth (TRYPL, January 2025 and HOOP, November 2023), pianist Neil Angilley (Steve Taylor’s Fusion Phew, May 2024) and bassist Davide Mantovani (Tristan Banks Quartet, April 2023).
Paul Booth has toured, performed and recorded with an impressive list of bands and artists, from Acid Jazz giants Incognito, The Brand New Heavies and Jamiroquai to major pop and rock acts including The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Carlos Santana, Kylie Minogue, Van Morrison, The Allman Brothers, Bonnie Raitt and Chaka Khan.
Neil Angilley is another member of Snowboy’s Latin Section and was an original member of Grammy-nominated band Down To The Bone (he co-wrote their US number one hit “The Sweetness”). He has played the main stage at Glastonbury with Shirley Bassey and has performed / recorded with Maceo Parker, Roy Hargrove, Lionel Richie and Lisa Stansfield. He has his own trio with Davide Giovannini and Davide Mantovani.
Davide Mantovani, a member of the Tristan Banks Quartet who performed at The Marr’s Bar in 2023, has also worked with an impressive list of artists including Lisa Stansfield, Tony Allen, Seckou Keita, Zoe Rahman, Jim Mullen, Andy Sheppard, Jason Rebello, Mulatu Astatke, Nana Vasconcelos and Alex Wilson.
The Minas Project quintet is completed with Uruguayan guitarist Guillermo Hill, who has worked with Tom Jones, Mica Paris, Monica Vasconcelos, Jennifer Lopez and master Brazilian drummer Airto Moreira.
This is a rare opportunity to see this spectacular lineup in the West Midlands, performing original Brazilian jazz and bringing sunny vibes to The Marr’s Bar in January! Doors open at 7:30pm and the band starts at 8pm. Admission is complimentary for Music Spoken Here club members and £15 on the door for non-members. For more information visit https://musicspokenhere.club