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João Paulo
João Paulo Esteves da Silva is the prodigal son of the Portuguese piano playing.
He finished the Superior Course of Piano in the Portuguese National Conservatoire (1984) with the maximum classification, and in the Rueil-Malmaison Conservatoire, in Paris, where he went to go even further in performing perfection with a grant given by the State, he received the most highest distinctions, like the Médaille d’Or, the Prix Jacques Dupont, the Prix d’Excellence and the Prix de Perfectionement.
Jazz didn’t came after this, but before.His first big concert was in 1979, in the Cascais Jazz Festival, included in the group Quinto Crescente. At the same time, he was the pianist of choice of many popular singers / songwriters, like Fausto, José Mário Branco, Vitorino and Sérgio Godinho, in some cases also as arranger and musical director. The first record (“Serra Sem Fim”, 1995) under his own name was released after his return to Portugal, establishing his future coordinates.
Fellow pianist Mário Laginha praised his “imense musical intelligence” and saxophonist Peter Epstein recorded no less than four discs with him, suficient sign of his admiration. João Paulo first solo incursion (“Roda, les suites portugaises”, 2002), was released by French label Empreinte Digitale, with its post-modern versions of traditional Portuguese music, John Cage’s prepared piano and a Debussy-like lyricism. With jazz colors, of course.
 João Paulo's records on clean feed |
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