Manuel Beleza

I was born in Braga – Portugal in 1955 and early I began to play guitar. After playing lead guitar and bass guitar, I decided to study piano. Meanwhile, I worked with several rock bands, but at this time, playing Hammond organ. “Carlos Santana”, “Emerson, Lake & Palmer”, “Yes”, were some of them.
After hearing some good musicians, I tried to find and listen to the great organ and piano players. So, my first idoles were, Bill Evans, Chick Corea and Jimmy Smith. Later, When I heard for the first time the Keith Jarrett piano player, I was fascinated with his improvisation. For me, he still is the number one on the piano jazz improvisation in the world!
I studied jazz piano for about 15 years.
At the 90’s, and because of a problem in my right wrist (tendinitis), I stopped studying during 10 years. In this period, I bought a Hammond organ. Nowadays, I’m still studying this fabulous instrument.
Since 1987, I teach harmony and jazz piano improvisation at the “Escola de Jazz do Porto” and at my own school – “Flauta de Hamelin, Centro de Estudos Musicais de Braga”.
During my career as jazz musician, I already performed with many musicians, like, Fredo Mergner, Mário Santos, Henry Lowther, Alexandre Frazão, Mário Barreiros, Pedro Barreiros, Henry Sousa, José Sarmento, Ricardo Fabini, Max Gómez, Virxílio da Silva, Pedro Gonçalves, Helder Gonçalves, Manuel Marques, Hugo Danin, Pedro Cardoso, Tuniko Goulart, Casimiro Talaia, Firmino Neiva, Artur Caldeira, Manuel Barros, Tony Peixoto, Paulo Peixoto, Pedro Abrunhosa, Eduardo Silva, António Torres Pinto, Paulo Gomes, and many others.
Jazz Bands who I worked with:
“Manuel Beleza Jazz terceto” (Manuel Beleza – Hammond Organ, Mário Santos – tenor sax and Mário Barreiros – drums)
“Henry Lowther / Mário Santos Quartet (Henry Lowther – trumpet, Mário Santos – tenor sax, Manuel Beleza – Hammond Organ and Alexandre Frazão – drums)
”Manuel Beleza trio” (Manuel Beleza – Hammond Organ, Tuniko Goulart – guitar and Hugo Danin - drums)
“Rebop” (Manuel Beleza – Keyboards, Eduardo Silva – bass and Hugo Danin - drums)
“Sonoridades” (Manuel Beleza – Hammond Organ, Manuel Marques – Tenor sax and Paulo Peixoto - percussion)
“Ricardo Fabini trio” (Ricardo Fabini – guitar, Manuel Beleza – Hammond Organ and António Torres Pinto - drums)
“Ricardo Fabini Quartet” (Ricardo Fabini – guitar, Manuel Beleza – Keyboards, Paulo Gomes – acoustic Bass and António Torres Pinto - drums)
“Manuel Beleza trio” (Manuel Beleza – piano, Paulo Gomes - Acoustic Bass and António Torres Pinto - drums)
“José Menezes / Manuel Beleza Quartet” (José Menezes – sax, Manuel Beleza – piano, Paulo Gomes - Acoustic Bass and António Torres Pinto - drums)
“José Menezes / Manuel Beleza Duet” (José Menezes – sax and Manuel Beleza – piano)
“Anima” (Manuel Beleza – piano, Tony Peixoto – Guitar, Firmino Neiva – Bass and Paulo Peixoto - Percussion)
“José Sarmento Quartet” (José Sarmento – Piano, Tony Peixoto – Guitar, Tony Simões – bass and Manuel Beleza - drums)
“Tony Peixoto / Manuel Beleza duet” (Tony Peixoto – Guitar and Manuel Beleza – Fender Rhodes Piano)