the second set of jazzambach’s first two-concert evening puts maria joão’s unmistakable vocal artistry centre stage, bringing one of the most extraordinary voices in european jazz to götzis. for more than four decades, the portuguese singer has moved between improvisation, experimentation and a wide range of musical worlds, always seeking new possibilities of expression beyond stylistic boundaries.

for decades, maria joão has been a defining voice in portuguese jazz and international improvised music. her distinctive vocal artistry and expressive power have led to collaborations with artists including bobby mcferrin, joe zawinul, gilberto gil, bobo stenson and egberto gismonti. she is the only portuguese artist to have been nominated for the european jazz prize and was awarded the order of infante dom henrique for her artistic achievements.

together with pianist and producer joão farinha, she explores the almost limitless possibilities of vocal expression. she becomes melody and rhythm, accompaniment, choir and storyteller. farinha combines his jazz background with a deep affinity for electronic music, using piano, keyboards, electronic textures and digital processing to create a musical space that is as open as it is changeable.

the two share a longstanding artistic partnership. since first meeting in 2008, they have developed a range of projects together. on stage, this familiarity is immediately apparent: curiosity, spontaneity and improvisation shape the concert, with much emerging in the moment through direct musical dialogue.

joão farinha works as a pianist, producer and multi-instrumentalist across a variety of artistic projects. alongside his longstanding collaboration with maria joão, he develops work of his own, frequently exploring the intersection of jazz, electronics and other forms of artistic expression.

following the haezz trio’s acoustic chamber jazz in the first part of the evening, an entirely different sound world opens up, revealing just how diverse jazz can be. discover a duo that continually explores the limits of voice and instrument: free, spontaneous and full of musical surprises.

https://mariajoao.org/

https://www.instagram.com/joaofarinhamusic/