I’m happy – and honoured – to announce that OGRE has been confirmed as the opening act for this year’s edition of Jazz em Agosto – an annual contemporary jazz festival promoted by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in Lisbon.
This is a special event for a variety of reasons.
First of all, this is the 30th anniversary of Jazz em Agosto, and for that reason it will be dedicated to the music of several jazz greats that have made the festival a very special event over the years. The 2013 edition of Jazz em Agosto is also dedicated to John Zorn, one of the world’s most important jazz musicians, on occasion of this amazing saxophonist’s 60th birthday. Zorn will play a series of concerts with different projects, starting the night right after our own concert.
The festival also includes other great musicians who are part of its history. Maria João and the OGRE project will be sharing the bill with John Zorn, Pharoah Sanders, Anthony Braxton, the Sun Ra Arkestra and many others!
Our own gig will also be a celebration of the 30th anniversary of CAM – Gulbenkian’s Contemporary Arts Centre. In 1983, singer Maria João and pianist Mário Laginha had just released their first album and performed at CAM’s opening. Three decades later, Maria João returns with her electro-jazz band OGRE, of which I’m very proud to be part of!
The concert will take place on July 25th, at the open-air amphitheatre at Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in Lisbon.
Entrance is free (limited to 900 seats), and the music will begin at 21:30
Stay tuned!
