With more #1 hits than any other woman in Brazilian history, Daniela Mercury embodies the celebratory music of Salvador de Bahia, the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. After years of training as a dancer, she first gained attention in her late teens as a pioneering female vocalist with trios elétricos, the bands that travel by flatbed truck to provide music for Salvador’s Carnaval. Mercury’s 1991 debut featured collaboration with the powerhouse percussion ensemble Olodum and introduced her turbocharged Axé (ah-shay) sound -- a rhythm-heavy hybrid of samba, reggae, rock and Caribbean influences. More recently her smash 2006 release, Balé Mulato: Ao Vivo, won a Latin Grammy Award for Best Brazilian Roots Album.Known for her marathon performances full of kinetic dancing, Mercury brings her 13-piece ensemble to Oakland's Paramount Theatre Friday night (8 p.m. $20-$65).

On Saturday, the festival showcases another side of Brazilian music with Sao Paulo-raised vocalist Luciana Souza. Whether transforming gems by Leonard Cohen, Sting and Joni Mitchell or interpreting Brazilian standards by Dorival Caymmi, Caetano Veloso and Milton Nascimento, Souza is a breathtaking singer who possesses a luminous, smoky tone. Raised in a musical family (her mother is esteemed singer-songwriter Tereza Souza; her father producer and guitarist Walter Santos), Souza's career quickly took off as she began collaborating with jazz masters like Danilo Perez, Fred Hersch and John Patitucci. Her recent Verve release 'Tide,' finds Souza singing contemporary pop tunes re-imagined as bossa novas and was produced by her husband and multiple Grammy-winner Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Madeleine Peyroux). She takes the stage with guitarist Larry Koonse and bassist David Piltch (Sat/15, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 8 p.m. $25-$40).

Back across the Bay, the Paramount hosts it's second night in a row with a special performance from neo-soul star India.Arie and her current collaborator, Israeli songwriter Idan Raichel. With 18 Grammy nominations and four Grammy Awards to her credit, Arie is a multifaceted creative force, a singer, composer, producer, guitarist and flautist who broke through with 2001’s monster hit 'Acoustic Soul.' On 2009's 'Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics,' Arie sought out an eclectic list of collaborators like blues great Keb’ Mo’ and jazz diva Rachelle Ferrell, but her latest collaborative album 'Open Door' revealed an expansive musical dialogue with keyboardist and songwriter Raichel (Sat/15, Paramount Theatre, 8 p.m. $25-$75).

On Sunday, SFJAZZ present two more shows to close out the weekend in San Francisco. Characterized by buzzing harmonics, the music of Tuvan throat singing quartet Huun Huur Tu is otherworldly yet strangely beautiful. Featuring preeminent musicians from the Central Asian autonomous Russian republic of Tuva, Huun Huur Tu has been a leading force in popularizing throat singing over the past three decades. The group has collaborated with a gamut of musical luminaries, including The Kronos Quartet, Ry Cooder, Frank Zappa and The Chieftains. Huun Huur Tu’s acclaimed 2009 release, 'Eternal,' features ambient electronic artist Carmen Rizzo, bringing an ancient musical tradition into modern times (Sun/16, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 7 p.m. $25-$40).

As a member of John Coltrane's "classic quartet" of the 1960s, jazz legend McCoy Tyner helped make an indelible mark on music history. The pianist's powerful, distinctive chords and sparkling melodic runs have also graced more than 50 of his own albums, from early classics like 'The Real McCoy,' 'Tender Moments' and 'Expansions' to his more recent efforts like 'Guitars.' Tyner must have a special place in his heart for the Bay Area between his frequent SFJAZZ appearances and regular residencies at Yoshi's. For this performance Tyner revisits the classic 1963 Impulse! album 'John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman,' a session that paired Coltrane with the highly under appreciated baritone crooner. Joining Tyner's trio for the are influential young saxophonist Chris Potter and rising vocalist José James (Sun/16, Herbst Theatre, 7 p.m. $25-$75). For more information on this year's San Francisco Jazz Festival, please visit the official SFJAZZ Web site.