Maria João

Maria João Monteiro Grancha (* June 27, 1956 in Lisbon, Portugal) is a Portuguese jazz singer.

Life and work

Maria João was only swimming teacher and began her training in 1982 at the School of the Hot Club of Lisbon. Already 1983/4 she went on with his own bands and won in 1985 at the Festival in San Sebastian a first prize. A European tour followed shortly after. Accompanying musicians were then Christof Lauer and Bobo Stenson and Charlie Mariano, David Friedman, Thomas Heidepriem. After a collaboration with the Japanese pianist Aki Takase in 1987 was followed in the 90's inclusion of various styles such as world music, modern jazz, and especially Latin American and Brazilian music as well as avant-garde. Depending on the thematic direction of the publication, electronic or symphonic elements from other genres to be installed.

Maria João has already played with many top musicians such as Manu Katche, Niels -Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Miroslav Vitous, Lauren Newton, Trilok Gurtu and Kai Eckhardt, but plays since the early 1990s, mostly with Mário Laginha as a pianist and keyboard player.

Discography

• Quinteto Maria João (1983 )
• Cem Caminhos (1985 )
• Conversa (1986 )
• Looking for Love ( 1989) ( with Aki Takase )
• Alice ( 1990) ( with Aki Takase, Niels -Henning Ørsted Pedersen )
• Sol (1992) ( with her group Cal Viva )
• Danças ( 1994) ( with Mario Laginha )
• Fábula ( 1996) ( with Laginha, Dino Saluzzi, Ralph Towner )
• Cor (1998)
• Lobos, Raposas e Coiotes (1999)
• Chorinho Feliz (2000)
• Mumadji ( 2001) ( with Mario Laginha )
• Undercovers (2003)
• Tralha (2004)
• João (2007)
• Chocolate ( 2008)
• Iridescente (2012 )