Formed in 2002, Angrajazz Orchestra is a training/work-in-progress project held by the Cultural Association Angrajazz, with musical direction by the professors Pedro Moreira and Claus Nymark. Promoting regular working sessions and workshops, Angrajazz Orchestra became the main “jazz school” in the Region, contributing for Angrajazz to be considered as the main and most important means of unveiling the jazz music in the Azores.
The Orchestra has played with many well known Portuguese jazz musicians such as Paula Oliveira, Mário Laginha, Zé Eduardo, Afonso Pais, Mário Barreiros, Hugo Alves, Luís Cunha, Paulo Gaspar, Ricardo Toscano, Carlos Azevedo and Jeffery Davis. Apart from numerous concerts in Terceira Island, the Orchestra has played in the islands S. Jorge, Graciosa, Faial, S. Miguel and Pico. Outside the Region, the Orchestra has performed in the cities of Funchal and Lisbon.
In 2015 the Angrajazz Orchestra participated in the cultural program “Lisboa na Rua” as part of the cycle “The Art of the Big Band – 5 Jazz Orchestras”.
At the 18º Angrajazz, the Orchestra performed, for the first time in Portugal, the integral of “The Far East Suite” written by the great jazz musician Duke Ellington. In that occasion the Orchestra featured two very important Portuguese jazz musicians – clarinetist Paulo Gaspar and saxophonist Ricardo Toscano.
The Orchestra has released two CDs –”Angrajazz Orchestra with Paula Oliveira” (2006) and “Angrajazz” (2018).
In this 25º Angrajazz, the big band will present to his public the result of one more of this educational project, and will have the honor of having as guest musician the extraordinary spanish saxophonist Perico Sambeat.
Perico Sambeat . Alto and soprano saxophonist Perico Sambeat is considered today as one of the most important spanish jazz musicians, owning a tremendous prestige with an extraordinary musical career inside and out of Spain. With more than twenty-five recordings as a leader and more than a hundred as a sideman, they´re especially remarkable his works with musicians as Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Tete Montoliu, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, and many others.
He has played in jazz festivals and clubs all over the world. Along his career, he has received numerous awards, such as the “Bird Award” given by the North Sea Jazz Festival to the musician deserving wider recognition (2003), to the best recording of the year to “Flamenco Big Band” (2008 and 2009), or “Jazz Terrassaman” in 2017.
Nowadays he combines teaching in Berklee College of Music Valencia Campus with his activity as a jazz performer and Big Band conductor.
MEMBERS
Pedro Moreira – director
Claus Nymark – director, trombone
Perico Sambeat – saxophones
Micaela Matos – alto sax
Rui Borba – alto sax
Rui Melo – tenor sax
Mauro Lourenço – tenor sax
José Pedro Pires – baritone sax
Paulo Borges – trumpet
Márcio Cota – trumpet
Guilherme Costa – trumpet
Tomás Reis – trumpet
Paulo Lourenço – trumpet
Manuel Almeida – trombone
Miguel Moutinho – trombone
Nelson Silveira – trombone
Antonella Barletta – piano
Paulo Cunha – double bass
Nuno Pinheiro – drums