About Me
Carlos Matos was born in 1972 in Rotterdam and comes from a musical family. His late uncle Pedro (aka Duca d’Nhô Pitra) Morais noticed his interest in music at a very young age. At that time its toys existed, mainly from music instruments.When he was 9 years old he went to the Rotterdams music school where he studied Hammond organ. During the period on the music school (1981-1990) he starting performing during the national child day (Dia das crianças), on weddings and receptions. At the age of 13 he began to discover Capeverdian music through some old records from Voz de Cabo Verde, Luis Morais and Bana which he transcribed.
In 1990, he participated on the Yamaha Electone Organconcours where he won the Beneluxfinale with his combo. In the meantime Carlos was searching for a new challenge with synthesizers.
In 1991 he became a member and later the musical leader of the band called ’Koladance’, on of the remarkable bands of this generation. Their album ’Koladance’ became album of the year. Because of this success they were invited to perform during the well-known festival in Mindelo, Cape Verde ’Baia das Gatas’. After highschool Carlos did admission examination to the Conservatory in Rotterdam for piano and he was allowed. Although he had had never had pianolessons, he chose this instrument because it offered more musical possibilities. He got lesson from Jan-Laurens Hartong, well-known bandleader of the group ’Nueva Manteca’.
In 1993, he became a member and arranger of the band Rabelados. This group achieved enormous successes in France, Switzerland, Portugal, Cape Verde and the United States. Rabelados was invited by the capeverdean Ministry of Culture for an exclusive concert during the annual parliament meeting. Also the TACV(Cabo Verde Airlines) invited them on the occasion for their 35th year of existence of this plane company.
At the Gamboa festival in 1995 their 2nd album ’Sukuru ’ was exclaimed to ’Best album of the year 1995’. Besides on stage Carlos is envolved with producing and arranging for albums like: ’Mudança’ (Ney Machado), ’Sururu’ (Boy Gé Mendes), ’Pilon Pilon’ (Meno Pecha), ’Nos 2’ (Beto Dias), ’Stronger’ (Inside Out), Chando ’Dor di mundo’ (Chando Graciosa), ’Nha Vitoria’ (Gil Semedo) and he gives lectures about capeverdean music (during e.g. Noorderslag seminar 2004, RASA) Carlos is also active musically outside the Capeverdean community, played with bands like group Fra-Fra Sound (surinam afro-jazz), Rumbatá, Azucaraba, La Banda Iré (salsa), Viviani Godoy, MPB (with Zuco 103 singer Lilian Vieira) (brazilian), Fernando Lameirinhas (portuguese), Inside Out, FCBWhite, More Gospel Singers (gospel)
In 1995 he formed his first capeverdean acoustic group Nostalgia with Jacqueline Fortes. With this group he started to develop his capeverdean roots with latin, jazz and afro-cuban influences.
In 1997 he achieved his Master Degree in Music and formed a new group: Carlos Matos Band. With this group he accompanied international artists like Ildo Lobo, Luis Morais, Manuel d’Novas (Dunya on stage 1998),Titina (1998 tour in Holland, New Morning in Paris 2003), Américo Brito (Baia das Gatas 1999), Tito Paris, Mendes Brothers (Dunya 2003). This group has been giving some workshops about capeverdean music at the Conservatory in Rotterdam and Utrecht. In 2004 he accompanied with his electric band the 2003 Kora Award Winner Suzana Lubrano during some concerts in Holland and the Gamboa Festival of that year.
At the moment Carlos is touring with portuguese singer Monica Triga, capverdean singer Dina Medina and performing with e.g. Izaline Callister, Nils Fischers’ Timbazo.
