A native of New York, Susanna was raised in a musical family. She has been entertaining audiences in Austin for over three decades, specializing in Brazilian musical styles, including samba, bossa nova, jazz-inspired pieces, and MPB (música popular brasileira, or Brazilian popular music).

Susanna was the leader and lead singer of one of Austin’s most popular dance bands, Susanna Sharpe and Samba Police, from 1988 to 2000, playing before crowds large and small in a variety of venues around Texas. Samba Police was the featured band for many years at Austin’s Carnaval Brasileiro and winner of two Austin Chronicle Music Awards. In the early 2000s, Susanna led the band Catavento, an eclectic quartet whose album Language of the Heart (2007) was featured on Public Radio International’s syndicated show The World.

Susanna continues to collaborate with some of Austin’s finest musicians in live performances. Over the past several months, she and her Brazilian music band have played sold-out shows at Parker Jazz Club and Monks Jazz. 

Watch recent video here.