Maria João (Portugal)

2 July, Križanke

The final concert at the Križanke theatre and the concluding performance of this year’s Ljubljana Jazz Festival was held by Portuguese singer Maria João, a passionate and emotional artist, who delighted the audience with her unique voice as well as colourful clothes and playful dancing.

She was accompanied on piano by her partner and long-standing collaborator, Mário Laginha, and it was the chemistry between them that energized not only the band but also the Križanke audience. Maria, who sang in English as well as in Portuguese, employed diverse registers of singing, whispering and talking, with the piano following and supporting her. She would also leave the stage to Laginha’s inspired soloing that resembled first Keith Jarrett, and then Gil Evans. Towards the end of the concert the atmosphere became rather elated; the emotional highlight of the evening was the last composition, when João in her solo crossed through all possible idioms of expression facilitated by her voice; she oscillated between singing, talking, whispering and whimpering. She not only astounded the listeners but also herself and the rest of the line-up, apart from Laginha composed of Brazilian drummer Alexandre Frazão, who the day before accompanied Bernardo Sassetti, and Bernardo Moreira on bass. The bend received standing ovation and had to give a few encores.

Their minds buzzing with impressions, the concert-goers were entertained until the wee hours at the Sax Pub in Trnovo, where select jazz and funk music was played by DJ Ubu.

                                                                        Andraž Jež