Manuela Lopes

..
MANUELA LOPES, vocalist/guitarist/composer/arranger, born in Mozambique, Africa in 1963. PROJECTS: "MANUELA LOPES SEPTET" - original songs by Manuela Lopes, with influences of Latin music, Afro music and Fado, (traditional Portuguese music). The band features vocals, piano and synthesizers, Portuguese guitar, bass and double bass, accordion, percussion and drums. "THE BILLIE HOLIDAY TRIBUTE", featuring Manuela Lopes Sextet, vocals, piano, bass, guitar, clarinet and sax, drums.   ABOUT "THE BILLIE HOLIDAY TRIBUTE" "THE BILLIE HOLIDAY TRIBUTE" is an idea created by Manuela Lopes to homage the Great Jazz Legend, Billie Holiday. The show features Manuela Lopes and her Sextet's own arrangements and interpretations of some of Billie Holiday's famous tunes. The repertoire includes not only a bluesy approach to some of the songs such as "Strange Fruit" or "Don't Explain", but also a modern approach to other tunes such as "I've got my love to keep me warm" or "Spreadin' the rhythm around". While pictures and videos of Miss Holiday are being projected on a screen alongside with a scenery of New York city in the 40's, "jitterbug" dancers perform fabulous choreographies to the songs!               ABOUT MANUELA LOPES Manuela Lopes, (Beira, em Moçambique, 5 Outubro de 1963).  Manuela Lopes she's a well established jazz and blues singer, in the Algarve, where she lives since 1975. Her unique style has gained her many good reviews on local and national newspapers.   In 1979 she signed a two year record deal with former Bonnie Tyler and Status Quo's producers, making several recordings in the pop area. In 1982 she was a guest singer on a television program in RTP, promoting young composers and artists.  In 1983 she begin to stand out as a jazz singer, performing with Scottish guitarist Jimmy Curry, British piano player Mike Johnson and Dutch trumpeter Freddie Behrens, in several jazz clubs in the Algarve and in 1985 she was invited to take part of the first international jazz concert in Vale do Lobo, Algarve, opening for British saxophonist Ronnie Scott, with her quartet, Scoobido, who featured musicians from Netherlands and Portugal. In the audience was the famous actress, Audrey Hepburn and pop star George Michael. In 1986 she started to be engaged in more serious composition and wrote several tunes, some of which are included in her CD, "PAISAGENS" recorded in 1998. In that year in Qta. do Lago, Algarve, where she was performing, she met famous German conductor James Last and Rick Partiff, from Status Quo. From 1987 until 1991 she performed with different bands and musicians working in diverse areas besides Jazz and Latin Jazz, such as Pop, R&B, Rock and Funk. In 1992 she was invited to open the student festival (Semana Académica da Universidade do Algarve), organized every year by University students, an event that attracts thousands of party goers, popular DJ's and musician's from in and out of the country. The concert featured famous portuguese jazz singer Maria João. In 1993 she took part of the musical play "Maldita Cocaína" from Portuguese theatre producer, Filipe La Féria, in Lisbon. In the same year she won the first prize in the 3ª session in a singers contest in Portuguese TV, SIC and made her debut in the Hot Club of Lisbon with her trio, featuring Brazilian piano player Ricardo Paulino, Portuguese double bass player Pedro Gonçalves and Portuguese drummer Luís Monteiro.  In 1994 she was several times invited as a guest singer in National TV, RTP 1. In 1995 she was invited to be the lead singer of the first Big Band in the Algarve "Estaleiro da Música" directed by Portuguese maestro and double bass player, Zé Eduardo, performing in the International Jazz Festival in Loulé and Jazz no Inverno, in Faro.  In 1996 she performed in a series of concerts sponsored by Região de Turismo do Algarve. In that same year she also performed with her Quartet in Cacela-a-Velha, Algarve. In 1997 she performed in Hot Club de Lisboa and Speakeasy. In that same year she was a guest singer in a radio program "A menina dança" produced by Zé Duarte, Portuguese Jazz critic.  In 1999 she performed with her Quintet in ESTJAZZ I, Jazz Festival in Extremoz, Alentejo, Portugal.  In 2000 she performed with her Quintet in the International Jazz Festival in Loulé, Algarve. In 2003 she participates in PROJECTO FUNKARMÓNICA in teatro Lethes in Faro. In 2004 she sang with the Juan Carlos Quartet in the XIV QUINZENA CULTURAL in Castro Verde, Alentejo, Portugal and performs with quartet of Martin Teuscher, in the opening of All Jarreau's concert, in Açoteias, Algarve. In 2005 she performed with her quartet in Faro em Festa, in Faro Capital da Cultura.  In 2007 she performed with her quartet in Museu do Trajo in S. Brás de Alportel.  In 2008 she performs with double bass player Zé Eduardo, in the Be&Bop Duo, in the opening of Escola das Artes, in Sines, Alentejo. In that same year the Be&Bop Duo performs in Museu do Trajo, in S. Brás de Alportel and in Teatro Joaquim de Almeida, in Montijo, Portugal. In 2008 she attended a workshop by USA jazz singer J.D.Walter.  In 2008 she had a special participation in Zé Manel Martins's CD called ATLÂNTICO, with one of her compositions "Sintonia". In 2009 the Be&Bop Duo performed in MOAZZ, in Fundão, Portugal.  THE BILLIE HOLIDAY TRIBUTE
..
Visit smoothjazzspace