On Saturday, December 31st, Bossa is bidding a fond farewell to 2016 and ushering in 2017, Brazilian-style, with the sultry and summery sounds of Cissa Paz. This carioca songstress – Bossa’s resident Brazilian artist who performs at the club every last Thursday of the month – is ready to heat up New Year’s Eve with her tropical repertoire of Brazilian classics and original hits. Dress code? Wear white!

“In Rio, we take to the beach, sing, dance, all dressed in white to bring in peace to the new year,” she says. “We send offerings and pray to Iemanja, the goddess of the ocean, to bring us blessings; and we ask for the health and safety of our loved ones. It’s a big celebration of life and culture.”

Cissa is personally closing out the year on a chill note. In 2016 she played to audiences at DC Jazz Fest, Strathmore, and more, but you could say it was all a break from the chaos of 2015, in which she dropped her debut self-titled album. The whirlwind that followed that release kept her in demand, performing shows in the U.S. and back home in Brazil. Cissa confesses she’s well-rested and ready to stir things up again.

“There might be a big surprise in 2017, but I’m not allowed to talk about it yet,” she says tantalizingly. “I can say that I’ve been collaborating with some awesome people and we should be coming out with a single pretty soon. The rest I’ll tell you in a couple months.”

While we wait for Cissa’s big reveal, we can party on the last night of the year like the brasileiros do: donned in white, evoking Copacabana vibes over the lush sounds of samba, MPB, forró, and perhaps some hints of what’s up Cissa’s sleeve for 2017.

“We have a great band and some awesome new songs on repertoire for you,” says Cissa. “Get ready to toast, dance, and feel the fireworks at Bossa! Next year should be fun – I’m excited about the prospects.”

Catch Cissa Paz and her band along with The Beat Fairy on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31, at 9 pm!

story © yillah 2016