Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos: Portuguese Composers

The Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos (OJM), a pioneering group in a largely unexplored field, works as a national jazz orchestra that promotes composition, research, distribution and training within this musical genre. When the orchestra performed in the closing concert of the jazz programme for Porto 2001 – European Capital of Culture, something shifted in the landscape of Portuguese jazz. The programme consisted entirely of composers from the country and featured the premieres of several newly commissioned works. Since then, the OJM has cemented its fundamental role in building a Portuguese repertoire for jazz orchestra. Over the years, Pedro Guedes and Carlos Azevedo’s steady musical output has been complemented by works that show off the creativity and immense stylistic diversity of composers including Bernardo Sassetti, Mário Laginha and Luís Tinoco.

Musical Direction: Pedro Guedes
Woodwinds: João Guimarães, João Paulo Silva, Mário Santos, José Pedro Coelho, Rui Teixeira
Trumpets: Luís Macedo, Ricardo Formoso, Rogério Ribeiro, Javier Pereiro
Trombones: Daniel Dias, Hugo Caldeira, Andreia Santos, Gonçalo Dias
Rhythm section: Piano: Miguel Meirinhos; Guitar: Hugo Ferreira; Double bass: Demain Cabaud; Drums: Zé Stark

Photography: Alexandra Corte-Real