Algodao

Description

Music is always the best way to bridge distances and promote great partnerships. And to prove
this theory, Europe will be the witnessing the great gathering between Portuguese singer Maria
Joao and Brazilian pianist and composer Andre Mehmari. A concert full of surprises and
dreams, which promises to create a new chapter in the history of this duo. Mehmari's repertoire
includes new songs composed especially for his duo with Maria Joao, which will be released on
an album on 19th July 2024, by Galileo Music Germany, with lyrics created by Maria Joao. An
unprecedented show with surprises and some new songs by the duo. Guinga/Aldir Blanc that
the duo has already performed in previous concerts, and which have become aesthetic
references for the artists. Aldir, in fact, is a godfather to this project, since "O Sonho" is the
partnership between Mehmari and Blanc, requested by Maria Joao for her album "A Poesia de
Aldir Blanc" (label Sesc).

Maria Joao's career has been characterized by her participation in the world's most prestigious
music festivals. A career that began at the Hot Clube de Portugal Jazz School and which, in just
a few years, has transcended borders, making Maria Joao one of the few Portuguese singers to
receive global acclaim. Her recognition for spreading Portuguese culture around the world
earned her the Order of Infante D. Henrique by President Jorge Sampaio. She is also the only
Portuguese artist to have been nominated for the European Jazz Prize along with Jamie Cullum
and Bobo Stenson. Possessing a unique style, she has become a point of reference in the
di cult and competitive field of improvised music. Her remarkable vocal ability and singular
interpretative intensity have earned her not only international recognition, but also a place
among the best singers of our time. From her partnership with pianist Mario Laginha, among the
13 albums she has recorded are: "Cor" dedicated to the cultures of the Indian Ocean; "Lobos,
Raposas e Coiotes" with the Hannover Philharmonic and "Chorinho Feliz". Maria Joao's
recording career, however, is much longer: she released her first album, "Quinteto de Maria
Joao", in 1983 and immediately gained a place of prominence on the national scene. Two more
albums with the quintet followed, still in the 1980s, and then her career progressed with various
encounters with artists such as Aki Takase, Carlos Bica and others. Her wide-ranging artistic
ability has led her to be called upon by other internationally renowned artists such as Bobo
Stenson, Bobby McFerrin, Egberto Gismonti, Gilberto Gil, Joe Zawinul, Laureen Newton,
Lenine, Guinga, Trilok Gurtu, Ralph Towner and Manu Katche, among many others. Alongside
his work with Mario Laginha, in 2009 he took on the Ogre project, which includes musicians
Joao Farinha (piano and keyboards), Julio Resende (piano), Joel Silva (drums) and Andre
Nascimento (electronics). With this line-up, the singer once again flies to new places, exploring
electronic sounds in songs from her repertoire or versions by other authors. The Ogre band has
played at venues such as Hot Club de Lisboa, CCB, Onda Jazz or Fabrica Braco de Prata and
made its debut on record in 2012 with "Eletrodomestico", a record that was followed by four
Andre Mehmari is considered one of the greatest exponents of contemporary Brazilian creative
music and his vast production is absolutely unique, ranging from the piano solo to jazz, opera,
choro, orchestral and chamber music, to popular songs in more than fi y-five albums released
since 1998, many of them produced in his own Monteverdi Studio, located in the heart of the
Atlantic Forest. Born in the city of Niteroi-RJ in 1977 and raised in Ribeirao Preto-SP, he
became known to the general public when he won the first edition of the Visa MPB Award,
already established in Sao Paulo. Twice nominated for a Latin Grammy, Andre's compositions
and arrangements have been played by many orchestral and chamber groups in Brazil and
abroad. He has appeared as a soloist in more than forty countries and at important jazz
festivals such as Chivas Jazz, Heineken Concerts, TIM Festival, Spoleto Festival USA (Andre
Mehmari Trio), Juan Les Pins (France), Umbria Jazz (Italy) as well as numerous tours in the
USA, Europe and Japan. He has performed as a pianist alongside Antonio Meneses,
Emmanuele Baldini, Maria Bethania, Milton Nascimento, Sergio Santos, Hamilton de Holanda,
Na Ozze i, Guinga, Monica Salmaso, Mario Laginha, Maria Joao Grancha, Makoto Ozone,
Toninho Horta, Fafa de Belem and Alaide Costa, among many other leading names on the
national and international scene, transcending genres and stylistic barriers with elegance and
brilliance. Alongside touring, he also produces music for ballets and soundtracks for
documentaries, series