I’ve been listening to Maria João & Mário Laginha for some years now, and since the first music I thought that the combination of unusual voice and accent with the mastering of the keys produced a really beautiful music (not that I’m an expert on the field). Some weeks ago, after seeing Lisa at the CCB I saw the ads for Chocolate, and decided that this would be occasion to finally see this great musicians live. 

The concert was GREAT! Maria João was glowing on her yellow and brown dress, and Mário was so graceful with the piano that it was almost as nice to see, as it was to hear him. But they were not alone, with them there was Alexandre Frasão that I already knew from other records, and that performed a great drumming show, and Bernardo Moreira that  with the ever so cool posture quietly filled the music with gentle strings. I was already familiar with Frasão’s work with João & Mário, and noticed his touch in Bernardo Sassetti’s “Nocturno”, but I don’t think I ever listened to Bernardo Moreira, even knowing from other sources that his family has a great presence in the portuguese jazz. Finally, Julian Argüelles was a complete stranger to me, but after that concert, I think I’m going to pay more attention to his music.

The concerted lasted for almost two hours, including an great encore that by itself was another concert, and the musicians were unstoppable at filling the Grande Auditório with great music. There was no “4 minute mtv tune” routine, and at some point I even thought that Maria João would simply collapse after so much vocals. Once again, it was really a great evening, and never before I clapped so much and with so much pleasure. 

Really, they all rock… errr… jazz !