Afonso Pais

Afonso Pais was born on July 1979, in Lisbon, Portugal.In 1995 Pais begins his studies at the “Hot Clube of Portugal” and is chosen to represent this institution at the 8th “International Association of Schools of Jazz” that took place in Sienna, Italy, in 1997.In the summer of 1998 he is invited by Erik Moseholm to participate as the first Portuguese representative in a project entitled “E.J.Y.O.” (“European Jazz Youth Orchestra”), where the most talented artists are invited to form a Big Band, chosen from a total of 19 European nations. He travels with this project throughout Europe, east and west. There are two available recordings published by the Danish label “Dacapo”, recorded live in Stockholm and Berlin: “The European Jazz Youth Orchestra 1998” - Vol. 1 / 2. Both recordings highlight him as a soloist.He is awarded with a complete scholarship to “Berklee College of Music”, in Boston but instead decides to go to the US to study at the “New School University / Mannes College of Music”, in NY where he graduates with a degree in the “Performance” course, belonging to the “Jazz and Contemporary Music” program (December 2000). There he has the opportunity to study with Buster Williams, Joe Chambers, Charles Tolliver, Andrew Cyrille, Hal Galper, Joanne Brackeen or the guitar players Peter Bernstein, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Vic Juris, performing with Peter Bernstein, George Benson, Jack McDuff, Ben Waltzer, Chris Higgins, Willie Jones III and Dr. Lonnie Smith.Between 2001 and 2003 he splits his professional activities between Lisbon and NY, obtaining a permanent visa there upon recommendation by some of the most outstanding, internationally renowned jazz artists. During this period he works as a sideman with various musicians. At the same time he develops two original projects: Experimentália (Global Music Experimental Project – alongside Joana Machado) and Terranova.Throughout these years Terranova has established contacts with the following musicians: Peter Bernstein, Peter Zak, Perico Sambeat, Marc Miralta, Chris Higgins, Albert Sanz, Alexis Cuadrado, Carlos Barretto and Alexandre Frazão. This music has been performed in trio or quartet format (including an invited artist) in various contexts, namely clubs, jazz festivals and auditoriums in Portugal, Spain or the U.S. A trio record was released in 2004 by “Trem Azul / Clean Feed”, representing a set of his original tunes: Terranova is Afonso Pais’s first album, with the participation of Carlos Barretto (on bass) and Alexandre Frazão (on drums), two renowned musicians in the Portuguese scene and includes an introductory text by Edu LoboAfter returning to Portugal he has also been teaching at the “Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espectáculo” (Music and Performing Arts School / Oporto), at the “Conservatório de Música da Madeira” (Music Conservatory of Madeira), and at the “Escola Luís Villas Boas / Hot Clube de Portugal”, as well as workshops and masterclasses. Works as guitarist, composer and musical director with Joana Machado’s quartet (“CRUde”, T.O.A.P. records), as well as other projects, namely “Matita Perê- Tribute to Tom Jobim”.His latest project, Subsequências, is the result of a close collaboration between the jazz trio lead by Portuguese guitar player Afonso Pais and the renowned Brazilian singer-author Edu Lobo. It was recorded by the trio and will soon be released as its forthcoming album, guest-starring Edu Lobo. From a conceptual point of view, Subsequências combines the jazz vocabulary and structure with other musical influences, adapting the refinement of the sophisticated jazz composition to a broader purpose.