António Zambujo

He grew up listening to Cante Alentejo. The harmony of the voices, the cadence of the phrases and the tempo of each movement, were forever an influence. Born in Beja, in 1975, António Zambujo started studying clarinet at the age of 8, making his debut at the Regional Conservatory of Baixo Alentejo.

Still at a very young age, he fell in love with Fado and the voices of Amália Rodrigues, Maria Teresa de Noronha, Alfredo Marceneiro, João Ferreira Rosa, Max among many others. He was used to singing with family and friends, and at 16 he even won a fado contest.

With a clarinet course in his luggage, he heads to Lisbon, where Mário Pacheco, Portuguese guitar interpreter and composer opens the door to the well-known Clube do Fado, in the Alfama neighborhood, where he started to play.

Shortly afterwards, he joined the musical "Amália", directed by Filipe La Féria. During the four years that the show was on display - first at the Teatro Politeama, then around the country -, Zambujo plays the role of Francisco Cruz, Amália's first husband.

"O mesmo fado" (2002), his first work is edited by Ocarina. The musical influences of Alentejo are striking and there are even some fados composed by him. Others are from well-known poets from the fado universe such as José Luís Gordo or Mário Raínho. Following the success of "O mesmo fado" receives the award for 'Best New Voice of Fado', already awarded by Rádio Nova FM to performers such as Mariza, Camané or Mafalda Arnauth.

In 2004, he started singing at Casa de Fado Sr. Vinho. And in addition to concerts in Portugal, he performs regularly in cities such as Toronto, Paris, Santander, Sarajevo, Zagreb.

He edits his second album, "Por meu cante", in which he deepens the Alentejo roots, recovering themes from the traditional songbook of Beja, merging them with new fado trends. For this work he has the collaboration of musicians Paulo Parreira (Portuguese guitar) and Ricardo Cruz (double bass).

In 2006 he received the Amália Rodrigues Prize (awarded by the Amália Rodrigues Foundation) in the category of "Best Male Fado Interpreter" and is invited by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation to the Atlantic Waves Festival, in London. In the same year, together with Carla Pires and Liana, he participates in the Festa do Avante, in homage to the composer Alain Oulman, who was responsible for some of the greatest successes of Amália Rodrigues.

The following year, in the summer, he is invited to close the "Festa do Fado" of Castelo São Jorge. And in September, he released his third album, "Outro Sentido", with music production by Ricardo Cruz and the special participation of Bulgarian Voices Angelite. In 2008, this album was released in Europe and the United States by 'Harmonia Mundi', under the label of its affiliate 'World Village'. Concerts across Europe continue. "Outro Sentido" is considered by Songlines Top of the World Album.

In 2010 he presented his fourth album "Guia" at Teatro Municipal São Luiz. Originals by national and Brazilian composers and lyricists such as Vinicius de Moraes, Márcio Faraco, Pierre Aderne, Rodrigo Maranhão, Ricardo Cruz, Zambujo himself, João Gil, João Monge, Aldina Duarte, José Agualusa, Maria do Rosário Pedreira, Pedro Luís among others. The British magazine Songlines chooses "Guia" as Top of the World Album and, for the second consecutive time, António Zambujo sees his work distinguished by this publication specialized in World Music.

It also appears in the most important national and international lists of the best records of 2010:

2nd Best national album - Nuno Pacheco's choices - Ípsilon Publico

3rd Best national album - BLITZ

3rd Best Album - http://lusotunes.blogspot.com/ - Lusophone music promotion

4th Best national album - Jornal de Letras

The 50 albums of 2010 - Revista Mondomix - France

Top of the World Album - Songlines - England

Best Album of 2010 - Sopa de Pedra

In 2011, after sharing the stage at the Olga Cadaval Cultural Center with trumpeter Laurent Filipe, a tour of Europe, South America and North America follows. The summer of that year is marked by participation in the most important national World Music festivals and, in June, he is invited to perform at the Festa do Fado, in Castelo de São Jorge. October was the month in which Zambujo took his music to the important Tourcoming Jazz Festival, in France, and then closed the month with his performance at the 25th Macau Music Festival.

Released in April 2012, «Quinto», the fado singer's first record under the seal of Universal Music Portugal, went directly to the 2nd place in the national top of sales.

Resulting from a live concert at the Coliseu de Lisboa, Zambujo launched, in 2013, "Lisboa 22:38 - Ao Vivo no Coliseu" and, a year later "Rua da Emenda".

His connection to Brazil, resulting from his multiple trips to the country and the collaboration with its artists, leads to the release "Rua da Emenda" (2014), already with some Brazilian sounds and, in 2016, "Até pensei que fosse minha", a tribute album to Chico Buarque.

Two years later, "Do Avesso" guarantees him the José Afonso Prize. According to the jury, this album represents "not only the continuation of António Zambujo's extremely coherent journey, but also a highlight for the confirmation of his interpretative qualities and the great creative inspiration he reveals".

Source:

Sons em Trânsito

http://www.antoniozambujo.com/