Ryan Keberle to Bring Brazilian Jazz to Wisconsin Tour

The trombonist will perform three concerts across the state starting November 1, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Jazz

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a trombone on a stand next to a tropical leaf, evoking the blend of jazz and Brazilian influences.
Jazz trombonist Ryan Keberle will begin a three-date tour across Wisconsin on November 1, 2026, performing arrangements of Brazilian songwriter Joâo Donato. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Jazz trombonist Ryan Keberle is set to launch a concert tour across Wisconsin starting November 1, 2026. The performances will highlight his latest album, Here is Donato, which reimagines the works of Brazilian songwriter Joâo Donato.

Why it matters

The tour serves to introduce American jazz audiences to the compositions of Joâo Donato. It highlights Keberle’s collaborative process of selecting and arranging music from established international traditions.

The production process involved narrowing a discography of 20 to 30 songs down to 8 to 10 final tracks. All Wisconsin performances are scheduled to begin at 7:30.

The players

Ryan Keberle

He is a professional jazz trombonist who holds a recurring teaching position at a university.

Joâo Donato

He is a prominent Brazilian songwriter whose compositions serve as the basis for Keberle's new album.

The details

In addition to his musical performances, Keberle will present a short film exploring 19th-century Dutch immigration. The artist travels to Brazil annually to record with his band and has previously completed tribute projects for Milton Nascimento, Edu Lobo, and Ivan Lins.

Timeline

  1. November 1, 2026: Performance in Whitewater.

  2. November 2, 2026: Performance in Madison.

  3. November 3, 2026: Performance in Stevens Point.

Industry Dynamics

Keberle's work follows a pattern set by the Brazilian jazz fusion movement by bridging traditional South American compositions with modern jazz arrangements. This ongoing cross-cultural exchange continues to influence how contemporary jazz artists build their repertoire through international collaboration.

Fans in Whitewater, Madison, and Stevens Point can attend the performances starting at 7:30. The tour offers local listeners a direct opportunity to experience live arrangements from the new album.

The takeaway

Keberle's method of delegating arrangement duties within his band highlights how collaborative efforts can revitalize legacy musical catalogs. Fans can learn more about an artist's style by exploring the original discographies that inspire these tribute projects.

Further reading

For more information on the local music scene, visit Jazz.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WORT-FM 89.9.

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Do you plan to attend live musical performances in your local community this year?