João Paulo

João Paulo Esteves da Silva studied piano at Academy of Santa Cecilia. He later joined the National Conservatory, where in 1984 he received the diploma Advanced Course in Piano. With a scholarship from the Secretary of State for Culture, moves immediately to Paris. Then, for three years, he deepened his studies at the Conservatoire de Rueil-Malmaison, where he obtained the highest distinctions, including the Prix Jacques Dupont. He then gave many recitals in France and the U.S., (including Carnegie Hall in 1989). João is also very active in the field of jazz and popular music. As early as 1979, he played at the Fifth Crescent in Cascais Jazz Festival 79. He participated as a pianist accompanist in numerous discs national artists. Noteworthy is his collaboration with Fausto (‘For this upstream’), José Mário Branco (‘be supportive’) and Sérgio Godinho.  João’s music is shaped by the worlds of jazz, song, classical music and traditional music. For him, emotional depth assumes greater importance than virtuosity: emotion has nothing to do with volume. His publications range from solo CDs to recordings with big bands. Also a poet and translator, João has translated Shakespeare and Molière for theatre, has regularly published his poetry books and composed music in dialogue with other arts, such as photography and cinema.