CD ´Undercovers`

CD ´Undercovers`

10 Mar 2003 by Agency

Maria João and Mário Laginha are a duo of unusual complicity. The outcome of this collaboration, besides a number of live performances all over the world, are the six albums they recorded for Universal: Danças, Fábula, Cor, Lobos, Raposas e Coiotes, Chorinho Feliz, and Mumadji a live recording.

Maria was born in Lisbon, she started her musical career at the Jazz school of the Hot Club de Lisboa. She was a member of the school's Big Band and during the year she attended the school she formed her own band with whom she recorded two albums. She won several awards including the first prize at the San Sebastian Jazz Festival. Besides the activity with her own band she established with Aki Takase one of the most innovative duos of the 80's, one that toured the world to public and critical acclaim.

Mário Laginha studied Piano at the Conservatório Nacional, graduating with top results. He won several prizes including the Bach award at the Braga Competition. But soon Jazz was to conquer Mario. As a member of the Sexteto de Jazz de Lisboa, he played in numerous festivals in Portugal and abroad. In 1987 he started the "Decateto de Mário Laginha" a project in which all compositions are originals by Mário. He won the awards for best composition, best instrumentalist and best group, at the Jazz and Improvised Music Competition in 1990.

Among the musicians with whom João and Mário played you can find Lenine, Christof Lauer, Trilok Gutru, Gilberto Gil, Nico Assumpção, Manu Katche, Dino Saluzzi and Ralph Towner. Mario also performed with Wayne Shorter. Maria is often a guest of Joe Zawinul.

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