with the first edition being in 1985 as a free jazz festival, the current brazil jazz fest (formerly called time festival and bmw jazz festival), is an annual ticketed jazz event that takes place in the marvelous city as well as săo paulo - although an international festival featuring a wide range of talent, it is usually a showplace to highlight the best that brazil has to offer in the way of jazz.

another insider tip, every first friday of the month in the favela neighborhood of tavares bastos, the maze hosts a giant jazz party, where live bands play for hours to an appreciative audience at this hip hostel.