La Vie En Rose

This month I bring you one of the happiest moments of this strange year of 2020. I played with my gipsy-jazz / manouche project Djangoland at the wedding ceremony of my former student Catarina. This moment, where the bride sings “La Vie en Rose” really captures the loving atmosphere that we all need to endureContinue reading “La Vie En Rose”

Duo Falcão/Reis

Last December I had the pleasure to perform a free improvisation session with Marcelo dos Reis, on the occasion of the anniversary of Marcelo’s own label Cipsela Records. Free improvisation is a completely musical ground for me, although I have been regularly participating in some improvised music events, but the challenge is always renewed, especiallyContinue reading “Duo Falcão/Reis”

Manouchka – live in Coimbra

Earlier this month, I guested at a live performance with Manouchka, a gipsy jazz/manouche band composed by my old friend Nuno Marinho (Guitar) and Marian Yanchyk (Violin), also guesting Bruno Neves (Guitar). It was the second time we played together as a quartet and there was a great atmosphere at the venue, a bar namedContinue reading “Manouchka – live in Coimbra”

Ensemble Trakia 45-Year Concert

This summer, at Plovdiv’s Ancient Theatre, I attended Ensemble Trakia‘s 45th anniversary concert. Once again, a fabulous show with Bulgarian traditional dances and music. In my recording you will have the chance to hear very well the double-bass of my good friend Stela Petrova, who has featured on a special video generously recorded for me, demonstratingContinue reading “Ensemble Trakia 45-Year Concert”

Bulgarian summer report 2016

A little bit late but I’d like to report another year of great musical moments in Bulgaria this summer! I should start by mentioning my gadulka lessons, with my dear teacher, Dr. Angel Dobrev, of the Bulgarian National Radio Folklore Orchestra, who this year introduced me to new challenges in Bulgarian music. Here is aContinue reading “Bulgarian summer report 2016”

Basso3 – double-bass trio

For over a year I’m teaming up with fellow bass players Alvaro Rosso and José Miguel Pereira in a double-bass trio format – Basso3 (facebook page) Since around 2009 I have started to experiment with other musicians from the improvisation field, in particular participating on the MIA encounters and more recently at the MEIA festival inContinue reading “Basso3 – double-bass trio”

Bulgarian Bass session with Stela Petrova

A session in Bulgarian Music with bass star Stela Petrova. During this two-hour session, Stela taught me how to play 3 songs. One, in a very tricky (for me) form of 9/8, from her band Diva Reka, is named “Happy Nine” and composed by one of the great kaval (Bulgarian flute) players of Bulgaria, bandContinue reading “Bulgarian Bass session with Stela Petrova”

MIA 2012

Last June, I had the honour of participating on the Improvised Music Festival MIA, in Atouguia da Baleia. This was the 3rd edition. For those who are interested to know more about this festival, I leave here some links: http://mia-festival.blogspot.pt/

Poetry and Musical Improvisation

“A Cena do Ódio” (The Scene of Hatred), written by Almada Negreiros, gave birth to a meeting between improvised music and declamation, in the beautiful city of Peniche. The text was divided in several sections which provided some guidelines for improvisation. It was a great pleasure for me to be part of this project –Continue reading “Poetry and Musical Improvisation”

Practice Versus Perfect

This is an original song I made over the last weeks that I would like to share with you. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for sticking around! Miguel The idea started while trying to make another (yet unfinished) song. I thought it was getting too complicated and took on some accidental playing on my guitar. IContinue reading “Practice Versus Perfect”