The Portuguese composer and bassist Miguel Calhaz will present, live, his project “CONTRA!” (Contemporânea Tradição), in two shows, respectively on the 29th of June, in Loulé, at the prestigious Festival Med, and on the 29th of August, in Belmonte, integrated in the Zeca Afonso Festival.
The project “CONTRA!” (Contemporânea Tradição), an intriguing and passionate blend of traditional Portuguese music and contemporary musical practices ranging from Jazz to improvised music, uses the specificity of the double bass, allowing the instrument to produce a variety of timbres, thus transporting you to less frequent spheres in your performance. The inclusion of Miguel Calhaz’s voice further expands the sound possibilities of the project. All this makes “CONTRA!” be a fascinating and innovative experience, which challenges and attracts at the same time. A unique musical project that mixes old and new, traditional and contemporary, creating something very unique and special.
Miguel Calhaz, musician and composer, singer and bass player, born in 1973, in Sertã, maintains musical projects in the areas of Jazz, World Music and Portuguese Music. He edited, in his own name, the CD “Estas Palavras”, in 2012 and “vozCONTRA Baixo”, in 2017.
He won the José Afonso Prize (original theme) at the 3rd Cantar Abril Festival (2011), the Adriano Correia de Oliveira Prize (best recreation) in 2013 and the Ary dos Santos Prize (best lyrics) in 2013 and 2015.
Miguel Calhaz has a degree in Music Education and in Double Bass/Jazz. Master in Teaching Jazz Music, he is Professor of the Professional Jazz Course and of Orquestra Geração, at the Coimbra Conservatory of Music.
