Orchestra Angrajazz

Formed in 2002, Angrajazz Orchestra is a training/work-in-progress project held by the Cultural Association Angrajazz, with musical direction by the professors Pedro Moreira and Claus Nymark.  Promoting regular working sessions and workshops, Angrajazz Orchestra became the main “jazz school” in the Region, contributing for Angrajazz to be considered as the main and most important means of unveiling the jazz music in the Azores.

 

The Orchestra has played with many well known Portuguese jazz musicians such as Paula Oliveira, Mário Laginha, Zé Eduardo, Afonso Pais, Mário Barreiros, Hugo Alves, Luís Cunha, Paulo Gaspar, Ricardo Toscano and Carlos Azevedo.  Apart from numerous concerts in Terceira Island, the Orchestra has played in the islands S. Jorge, Graciosa, Faial and S. Miguel.  Outside the Region, the Orchestra has performed in the cities of Funchal and Lisbon.

 

In 2015 the Angrajazz Orchestra participated in the cultural program “Lisboa na Rua” as part of the cycle “The Art of the Big Band – 5 Jazz Orchestras”.

 

At the 18º Angrajazz, the Orchestra performed, for the first time in Portugal, the integral of “The Far East Suite” written by the great jazz musician Duke Ellington.  In that occasion the Orchestra featured two very important Portuguese jazz musicians – clarinetist Paulo Gaspar and saxophonist Ricardo Toscano.

 

The Orchestra has released two CDs –”Angrajazz Orchestra with Paula Oliveira” (2006) and “Angrajazz” (2018).

 

In this 24° Angrajazz, continuing the work developed last year, the Orchestra will present a repertoire dedicated again to the Hard Bop, this time featuring a guest – the vibraphonist Jeffery Davis.  This subgenre of Jazz, which had its prime time between the mid-50s and mid-60s of last century, is an extension of Bebop music.  Journalists and record companies began using the term Hard Bop to describe a new current within Jazz that incorporated influences from Rhythm n’ Blues, Blues and Gospel, and is characterized by slow and medium rhythms, simple, lyrical and memorable melodies.

Jeffery Davis was born in Canada in 1981 and has lived in Portugal since 1985.  After having attended the Gulbenkian Conservatory, in Aveiro, and a summer course at Berklee College of Music, USA, he joined the ESMAE – Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espectáculo, in Porto.

 

In 2002, he won first prize at the Concours International de Jazz in Paris, winning a scholarship to attend the course at Berklee College of Music.  Also in 2002 he concluded ESMAE, with the maximum grade.

 

In 2003 he started the course of Jazz Performance Vibraphone, at Berklee College of Music, which he finishes in 2006, with distinction.  He won numerous awards from Berklee, and receives the International Association for Jazz Education Award for Outstanding Musicianship.  In the USA he has the opportunity to work with several jazz musicians such as Joe Lovano, Gary Burton, Dave Liebman, Terrence Blanchard, Michel Camilo, Steve Swallow, Bob Mintzer; Vitor Mendoza, among others.

 

He has several CDs edited, and has performed solo recitals and concerts for vibraphone and orchestra throughout the country.  He is a composer in both jazz and classical music.

 

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