A jazz fan since her teens, Maggie MacDougall was impressed by vocalists Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter, and Jon Hendricks, but found her greatest inspiration from instrumentalists, especially horn players. Throughout her decades-long career as a French and Spanish teacher, she sat in on friends’ gigs and participated in jam sessions. In 2016 she had her first professional gig with her band The Magpies, singing swing and bebop standards along with a few Brazilian songs. On an inspiring two-week stay in Brazil, Maggie met musicians, heard new genres of music, and made lifelong friends. During the Covid shutdown, she expanded her repertoire, studied Brazilian Portuguese, and collaborated with pianist Wayne Hawkins to form the band Bossamba.

Pianist and keyboardist Wayne Hawkins has a discography of over 40 recordings, including his work as leader on the critically acclaimed Wayne Hawkins Trio and his more recently released Solo. He wrote the book Piano Aerobics for Hal Leonard Publishing, teaching contemporary technique in popular styles. He was on the University of Kansas faculty for 8 years, and currently teaches at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. As Music Director of his church, Wayne recently presented a unique event called “Chant Meets Jazz,” where cantors sang traditional sacred chants, followed by a jazz quartet performing his original arrangements of the material. Wayne moved east from Kansas City, where he played for 10 years with the band Sons of Brasil. He studied composition with Jovino Santos Neto, who was composer, arranger, and producer for the great Brazilian band leader Hermeto Pascoal. Wayne brings his uniquely valuable experience to Bossamba as pianist, arranger, and co-leader.

Lou Pappas is a versatile bassist, active in the jazz and classical communities. He has performed with the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra and the Westchester Philharmonic, and is Principal Bass with the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. He toured for many years with the “Jazz Knights” of the West Point Military Academy, and has performed with jazz luminaries Dave Liebman, Michael Brecker, Clare Fischer, Steve Turre, and fellow bassist John Clayton, to name just a few. Lou is currently an Adjunct Artist in Music at Vassar College, and performs in the Swing Vipers band and the Analog Jazz Orchestra.

Mark Foster is a well-known percussionist and educator in New York’s Capital Region. The Albany Times Union named him “best crossover musician,” citing his involvement in a number of diverse styles with the area’s top ensembles. He gives lessons at RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), directs the Empire State Youth Percussion Ensemble, and performs with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. Mark’s mastery of Brazilian drumming is a valuable asset to the Bossamba band.