Oeiras International Jazz Festival presents the best current Jazz
February 7, 8, 14 and 15, at the Ruy de Carvalho Municipal Auditorium, Carnaxide
The first edition of the Oeiras International Jazz Festival takes place over the first two weekends of February in Carnaxide.
The program features historic names in Jazz, Maria João & Mário Laginha, Carlos Bica & Azul, talents already established on the national scene such as Mário Costa’s trio, but also bets on promises of tomorrow, such as Estela Alexandre.
The Oeiras International Jazz Festival arises from the desire of the Oeiras City Council to once again integrate this format, dedicated to Jazz, into its cultural program. In this sense, the program for this edition of the Festival was drawn up, focusing on the intersection of different generations of musicians and also on the desire to present international names in formations led by Portuguese musicians.
Another criterion in mind was to choose musicians from different regions of our country, promoting the circulation of excellent musicians in the territory, which, fortunately, are increasingly abundant in Portugal, a little everywhere.
There was also the intention of bringing to the present moment formations that marked the history of Portuguese jazz, such as those of Maria João & Mário Laginha or the international trio of Carlos Bica with “Azul”, which is about to celebrate 30 years of existence, with Frank Möbus (guitar) and Jim Black (drums). This first weekend (7th and 8th February) will be a fitting tribute to these 5 giants who have kept us company over the last few decades and whose music will certainly be part of the soundtrack of many of our lives, whether through records or from the shows we’ve seen over the years.
The second weekend (14 and 15 February) was, in contrast, designed to reflect the dazzling moment we are currently experiencing in the national jazz scene, with the emergence of excellent young musicians with great skills as instrumentalists, but also as composers. In this sense, on February 14th we will have the absolute debut of an orchestra composed of renowned names and many others who have been establishing themselves in the Portuguese jazz scene, led by one of the most promising names of the new generation of Jazz in Portugal: Estela Alexandre.
In this concert, Estela Alexandre will conduct the Orchestra that gives her name and that brings together musicians from different generations and from all over the country, presenting a repertoire entirely of her creation.
To close this first edition of the Oeiras International Jazz Festival we will have the trio of Mário Costa, a drummer born in the north, in Viana do Castelo and who will be accompanied by companions from other trips: Benoît Delbecq, on piano, synthesizers and electronics, and Bruno Chevillon, on double bass. Mário Costa has won awards and titles throughout his career, such as “Best Album of the Year” with Oxy Patina (CleanFeed) or “National Jazz Musician of the Year” by jazz.pt magazine, in 2018. He is currently promoting his latest quartet entitled Chromosome, distinguished with the title of “Group of the Year” at the RTP / Festa do Jazz 2023 awards. In 2024 he received the title of “Jazz Musician of the Year” twice, also by jazz.pt and by Jazzlogical, and the author of the “Best Jazz Album 2024” at the PLAY Awards.
As for this particular concert, if we remember that Bruno Chevillon’s double bass often appears alongside Louis Sclavis, Michel Portal or Daniel Humair and that Benoît Delbecq’s piano, in addition to his projects, has played with such diverse and special people as Evan Parker, Mark Turner or Mary Halvorson, you have a perspective of the encounter this show will provide. But because music is much more than the sum of its parts and because each composition works like a red carpet that Mário Costa rolls out for each of his companions, there is also much more that is revealed in the union of these three musicians. And so, everything remains unsaid. Only the music can speak for the wonder and explosion of creativity that is released by this group.
In short, this Festival aims to honour this noble and free musical style through those who dedicate themselves to it and who present us with their art and form of expression with each note, regardless of genre, origin, language or creed.
Tickets are available at municipal offices and on the Ticketline.
Long live music. Long live Jazz!
Always confirm with the concert hall or promoter the conditions of access, confirmation of the date or time, ticket place of sale, price, and availability.
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