Alceu Valença is a legendary singer/songwriter and the creator of a distinctive musical style that blends his northeastern roots (São Bento do Una in the state of Pernambuco) with contemporary MPB grooves. He is also a fascinating live performer.

Over 40 years, Valença has developed a brilliant career and released 35 albums with over 5 million records sold. His music fuses folk sounds from the north-east of Brazil with hard rock influences. His strong poetry makes him a master of Brazilian songwriting.

Folk styles such as forró, baião, xote and frevo are always behind his musical influences. Songs such as Morena Tropicana, Coração Bobo, Anunciação, Taxi Lunar and Belle de Jour have given Valença the highest positions in the charts for several decades. His album "Vivo" was defined as a psychedelic masterpiece by Richard Perry of Arcade Fire.

Solar Sessions, part of SOLAR - Brazil Music Festival, highlights the multicultural synergy of Brazil through an artistic dialog. Alceu Valença represents both the cultural diversity and the history of a resilient people of the Northeast of Brazil.

Photos By: Marcio Toledo