The festival is bringing music to Mata dos Marrazes, in the União das Freguesias de Marrazes e Barosa (UFMB), with the local government, responsible for the organization, having announced the full program of the “A caminho…” extension in June and the main concerts on July 12.
The main program takes place in the forest and concludes the festival with two international concerts: Vega Trails and Tcheka & Mário Laginha.
The project formed by double bassist Milo Fitzpatrick, founder of Portico Quartet, and saxophonist Jordan Smart of Mammal Hands, is currently based in Madrid, Spain, and is part of the Gondwana Records label.
In Marrazes, they will present “a fusion of minimalism and free improvisation,” the organization revealed.
On the same day, Cape Verdean singer Tcheka and Portuguese pianist Mário Laginha will take the stage in a performance that combines “Cape Verdean lyricism with the sophistication and freedom of jazz piano.”
“In a continuous movement between tradition and avant-garde, improvisation and structure, this edition aims to explore the infinite possibilities that arise when artists from different geographies, sensibilities, and aesthetics come together to create new soundscapes,” highlighted the local authority.
This is also reflected in the “A caminho…” program, which on June 7 promotes the meeting between the duo Tear, consisting of saxophonist Gabriel Neves and guitarist Telmo Sousa, with the female choir “Verde Pyno,” in the locality of Pinheiros.
On June 14, the Combo Jazz of Orfeão de Leiria and the international trio Perselí, formed by musicians from Mexico, Scotland, and Portugal, are set to perform at Parque de Merendas da Barosa.
“This 7th edition proposes an immersive journey through parallel sound realities, where different musical worlds meet and transform,” emphasized the UFMB, dedicating the festival “to the concept of ‘muldiversity’,” combining influences “from contemporary jazz to traditional music, through cultural fusions and sound experiments.”
“Thinking that with such few resources, we managed to gather renowned artists like Perselí, Vega Trails, Tcheka & Mário Laginha, create absolutely unique moments, like the Tear project concert with the Regional Choir Group ‘Verde Pyno’, or bring together in the same space established artists with emerging ones, is truly moving,” stated Catarina Dias, the secretary of UFMB, to the agency Lusa.
JazzMATAzz was born in 2019 “from a dream, almost stubborn,” and stands as proof that “with passion, dedication, and vision, it is possible to build something larger than ourselves.”
“Seeing this dream reach its 7th edition, with a path of coherence and tremendous quality, is a source of immense pride. All of this stems from the effort of those who believe that music can create community, open horizons, and touch lives. And that is, for us, the greatest victory,” concluded Catarina Dias, one of the organizers.
The festival started in March with “Conversas em andamento,” featuring dialogues with musicians Alexandre Frazão, Demian Cabaud, Gileno Santana, and a sound workshop led by Isaac Raimundo.
