João Barradas + Sara Serpa Quarteto

The 23rd edition of the Festa do Jazz takes place from 19 to 21 December at the Centro Cultural de Belém, bringing together artists, agents, and jazz schools from across the country in a programme dedicated to the expansion of jazz sonorities and their most liberating oral expressions.

On the festival’s opening day, two of the most internationally acclaimed names in Portuguese jazz share the stage for the first time: João Barradas and the Sara Serpa Quartet.

João Barradas stands out as one of the most creative musicians in the European accordion scene, moving seamlessly between classical tradition and improvised music. He has performed the first accordion recitals in venues as diverse as the Wiener Konzerthaus and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, and was named ECHO Rising Star by the European Concert Hall Organization in 2019. Sara Serpa is a Portuguese vocalist and composer whose music defies convention, blending jazz, chamber music, and experimental sound into a unique voice. Known for her pure tone, wordless singing, and fearless improvisation, Serpa has gained international recognition for creating music that is both intimate and visionary, contributing her voice to some of today’s most innovative musical collaborations.

They will be joined live by André Rosinha (double bass) and João Pereira (drums).