Maria João (singer)

{{Infobox musical artist|

| name = Maria João

| image = Maria João.jpg

| caption =

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Maria João Monteiro Grancha

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|6|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Lisbon, Portugal

| genre = Jazz, world, avant-garde, electronica

| occupation = Singer

| years_active = 1983–present

| label = Universal

| associated_acts = Mário Laginha, OGRE

| website = {{URL|mariajoao.org }}

}}

Maria João Monteiro Grancha (born 27 June 1956) is a Portuguese jazz singer.{{cite book|last1=Hole|first1=Abigail|last2=Beech|first2=Charlotte|title=Portugal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GCPkxTOPKhoC&pg=PA43|accessdate=30 May 2010|date=2 March 2005|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74059-682-4|page=43}} She is known for her vocal flexibility and improvisational skills. Although considered a jazz singer, she incorporates folk music, avant-garde, and electronica.

Her main musical partner is Portuguese pianist Mário Laginha. She has also worked with Aki Takase, Bobby McFerrin, David Linx, Dino Saluzzi, Gilberto Gil, Joe Zawinul, Kai Eckhardt, Lenine, Manu Katche, Ralph Towner, Trilok Gurtu, Wolfgang Muthspiel, and [http://mariajoao.org/projects/group?ogre OGRE].

She was invited by RTP to compose an entry for Festival da Canção 2024, the Portuguese selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024;{{cite web|url=https://media.rtp.pt/festivaldacancao/artigos/sao-estes-os-20-autores-do-festival-da-cancao-2024/|title=São estes os 20 autores do Festival da Canção 2024|trans-title=These are the 20 authors of Festival da Canção 2024|language=pt-PT|work=media.rtp.pt|publisher=RTP|date=2023-11-06|access-date=2023-11-06}} she performed the song "Dia" in the second semi-final on 2 March 2024, failing to qualify for the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.escportugal.pt/2024/01/ultima-hora-portugal-conheca-os.html|title=Portugal: Conheça os concorrentes do 'Festival da Canção 2024'|trans-title=Portugal: Get to know the contestants of "Festival da Canção 2024"|language=pt-PT|work=ESC Portugal|date=2024-01-18|access-date=2024-01-18}}{{cite web|last=Matito|first=Jesús|url=https://www.escplus.es/eurovision/2024/desvelados-los-seis-ultimos-clasificados-para-la-final-del-festival-da-cancao-2024/|title=Desvelados los seis últimos clasificados para la final del Festival da Canção 2024|trans-title=The last six qualifiers for the final of Festival da Canção 2024 have bene revealed|language=es-ES|work=Eurovoix|date=2024-03-03|access-date=2024-03-03}}

Discography

Quinteto Maria João (Orfeu (Pt), 1983), with Mário Laginha
Cem Caminhos with Maria João Quintet (Orfeu/Nabel (G), 1985)
Conversa with Maria João Quintet (Nabel, 1986)
Looking for Love with Aki Takase (Enja (G), 1988)
Sol with Grupo Cal Viva (Enja, 1991)
Alice with Aki Takase and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (Enja, 1992)
Danças with Mário Laginha (Verve World, 1994)
Fábula (Verve, 1996), with Dino Saluzzi, Ralph Towner, Manu Katché a.o.
Cor with Mário Laginha, Trilok Gurtu and Wolfgang Muthspiel (Verve, 1998)
Lobos, Raposas e Coiotes with Mário Laginha and NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Hannover and Arild Remmereit (PolyGram (Pt)/Verve, 1999)
Chorinho Feliz with Mário Laginha (Universal (Pt)/Verve, 2000)
Mumadji with Mário Laginha, Toninho Ferragutti and Helge Norbakken as Mumadji (EmArcy, 2001)
Undercovers with Mário Laginha (Universal (Pt)/Verve, 2002)
Tralha (2004)
Pele with José Peixoto (Zona Música (Pt), 2006)
João (Universal (Pt), 2007), also released with additional DVD
Chocolate (2008)
Follow the Songlines with David Linx, Diederik Wissels, Mário Laginha (Naïve, 2010)
Amoras e Framboesas (2011)
A Different Porgy & Another Bess (2012)
Electrodoméstico (2012)
Iridescente (2012)
Plástico with Ogre (Espuma Preta (Pt), 2015)
Mar Afora with Guinga (Acoustic Music (G), 2015)
Studio Konzert with Ogre (Neuklang (G), 2017)
A Poesia de Aldir Blanc (Selo Sesc (Br), 2017)
The Blues Experience with Budda Power Blues (Mobydick (Pt), 2017)
Agora Muda Tudo (Now Everything Changes) with Nuno Côrte-Real, José Luís Peixoto, Ensemble Darcos (Odradek (Cz), 2018)
Open Your Mouth with Ogre Electric (2020)

=Compilations=

Pensa Nisto! (1996) – Fidjo Magoado
Etnocity/Underground Sound of Lisbon (2000) – Saris e Capolanas (Remix) (MJML)
Movimentos Perpétuos (2003)– Mãos na Parede (MJML)

=As featured vocalist=

ABBAcadabra (1984)
Júlio Pereira (1990)
LX-90 – Uma Revolução Por Minuto/One Revolution Per Minute (BMG Ariola (Pt), 1992)
NDR Bigband – Bravissimo II - 50 Years (ACT, 1998) with João on one track recorded 1993
Júlio Pereira – Tarde Quente (1994)
Laurent Filipe – Ad lib(itum) Vol. 1 (Movieplay (Pt), 1995)
Bom dia Benjamim, children's musical audiobook (Movieplay (Pt), 1995)
António Pinho Vargas with Maria João & José Nogueira – A Luz e a Escuridão (EMI (Pt), 1996)
Carlos Bica, Frank Möbus, Jim Black – Azul (EmArcy, 1996)
Cantigas de Amigos – São Macaio/A Garrafa (1998)
Clã - Pois (1998)
Dulce Pontes – Modinha das Saias (1999)
Bana (1999)
Jorge Palma – Acto Contínuo (Mercury/Universal (Pt), 2001)
Joe Zawinul – Faces & Places (ESC, 2002), João on one track
Carinhoso – Ingénuo (2002)
Simentera – Lua Cheia (2003)
Pirilampo Mágico (with Mariza e Teresa Salgueiro) – Faz a Magia Voar (2003)
DEP – Esquece Tudo O Que Aprendeste (Universal (Pt)/EmArcy, 2004)
Danças Ocultas (2004)
Saxofour – European Christmas (EmArcy, 2004)
Saxofour – Cinco (EmArcy, 2005)
Teresa Salgueiro – Obrigado (EMI, 2005), João on two tracks
Blasted Mechanism – Avatara (2005), João on one track
Clã – Vivo (EMI (Pt), 2005), João on one track
D'Herbe Foundation – Inner Face (Free (Pt), 2006), João on two tracks
Lucía Martínez Cuarteto – Soños e Delirios (Nuba (Es), 2008), João on one track
Jan Gunnar Hoff – Magma (Grappa (Nw), 2008)
Vera e os Seus Amigos – Papagaio Fofoca (2008)
Ogre – Electrodoméstico (JACC (Pt), 2012), João on one track
Guinga – Porto da Madama with Esperanza Spalding, Maria Pia e Vito and Mônica Salmaso (Selo Sesc (Br), 2015)
David Helbock´s Austrian Syndicate (ACT, 2023) on track "Komm, lieber Mai und Mache"

References

External links

[http://www.mariajoao.org Official website]
[http://www.vimeo.com/1465836 Maria João e Mário Laginha Performing Live]
[http://www.mariajoao.org/ Maria João Fan Club Website]
[http://news.allaboutjazz.com/under-your-skin-interviews-muriel-anderson-maria-joao-kiran-ahluwalia-and-mieko-miyazaki.php Maria João Interview at allaboutjazz.com]

Category:Portuguese jazz singers

Category:Portuguese women jazz singers

Category:1956 births

Category:20th-century Portuguese women singers

Category:Living people

Category:Singers from Lisbon

Category:The Zawinul Syndicate members

Category:21st-century Portuguese women singers