Duarte Ventura Reperio + Ensemble Festa do Jazz

The Jazz communities will, once again, gather at Centro Cultural de Belém, Lisbon in the 22nd edition of Festa do Jazz.

Reperio is a project by vibraphonist Duarte Ventura, commissioned by the Festa do Jazz, looking to connect the music of the past with the future, aiming to relate already created music with something yet to be discovered.

The idea initially emerged from expanding the young composer’s quintet, committing to the sound already explored, which, when fused with vocals, cello, and percussion, will create something new. The concept of movement will always be present, and the compositions and improvisations are not seen as separate entities.

The ensemble features Duarte Ventura (vibraphone and composition), Miguel Valente (alto saxophone), Miguel Meirinhos (piano), Zé Almeida (double bass), Luís Possollo (drums), Joana Raquel (vocals), Marta Rodrigues (vocals), Adèle Viret (cello), and Iúri Oliveira (percussion).

In 2024, the Ensemble Festa do Jazz is led by composer João Mortágua, featuring a collection of compositions from various members of the project, all with notable collaborations.

Mortágua (saxophone) leads his own original groups, in addition to his solo project HOLI (in partnership with visual artist João Vasco Paiva). He also co-leads the trio “Quang Ny Lys” with Mané Fernandes and Rita Maria, and has three duos with drummer Diogo Alexandre (“Stau”) and pianists Luís Figueiredo (“Kintsugi”) and Carlos Azevedo (“Calcanhar”). He was named Musician of the Year at the RTP/Festa do Jazz Awards in 2017 and won the Best Jazz Album award at the Play Awards in 2020. Mortágua also teaches jazz courses at the Conservatory of Music in Coimbra and the University of Aveiro.

Bernardo Tinoco (saxophone) is a musician with the Hot Club Jazz Orchestra of Portugal and the Setúbal Jazz Orchestra. He occasionally collaborates with some of Portugal’s most acclaimed singer-songwriters and African music groups. He currently leads the group GARFO, which was named Revelation Group of the Year at the RTP/Festa do Jazz Awards in 2021.

José Diogo Martins (piano) has a career characterized by his relentless pursuit to unite musical worlds. He graduated from the Conservatory with the highest honors and then attended the Copenhagen Conservatory to explore unifying elements in all the music he has studied. He is a versatile and highly sought-after musician in the jazz, contemporary classical, and improvisation scenes.

Francisco Brito (double bass) represented the Hot Club School at the “Festa do Jazz” Festival in 2009, receiving the award for “Best Instrumentalist,” a title he repeated in 2011. He currently teaches at the Hot Club Jazz School in Portugal.

João Lopes Pereira (drums) is a musician, composer, and performer active in a myriad of styles and creative contexts. He is a founding member of the Robalo Music label, promoter, and collective, and he programs Jazz às Quintas at Café Dias.