Despite her youth, Clara Lacerda (b. 1999) already has a significant creative track record, reflecting a dedication and work ethic worthy of note. A graduate of ESMAE and currently pursuing a master’s degree in composition, the pianist and composer has developed a multifaceted body of work over the past five years across various creative contexts. Among her numerous projects, notable are the trios The Peace of Wild Things, Duke Ellington’s Songbook, and Herse (the latter uniquely shared with cellist Raquel Reis, who also appears in this festival edition), as well as a recent duo with harpist Frederica Vieira Campos and a quintet alongside Afonso Silva, João Pedro Brandão, Romeu Tristão, and João Pereira. Alongside her own compositions, Clara has collaborated with singer Salvador Sobral and the Orquestra de Jazz de Matosinhos, in the latter case as an arranger, and occasionally takes part in artistic projects beyond pure music, such as the performance “Stop, Repair, Prepare: Ode to Joy for a Prepared Piano,” presented at the Serralves Museum.
Vasco Gato was born in Lisbon in 1978. He published his first book of poetry, Um Mover de Mão, in 2000. In 2016, Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda released a collected edition of his poetic works titled Contra Mim Falo. He also published the play Daqui Ninguém Entra, which premiered in 2016 at Teatro da Comuna. His first novel, Adius, was released in 2020. Since 2006, Vasco has worked as a literary translator, collaborating with major Portuguese publishing houses.
Filipe Louro, a graduate in Jazz Double Bass from ESMAE, is a musician distinguished by the breadth of his musical approach, embracing styles ranging from more classic jazz to hip-hop and various languages bordering what is understood as “rock music.” After beginning his creative work with the Eduardo Cardinho Quintet and the jazz/rock band Rite of Trio, Filipe has collaborated with musicians such as Pedro Melo Alves, Mané Fernandes, João Grilo, and Susana Santos Silva. He is also a member of groups active in the pop music scene, including Salto, Unsafe Space Garden, and We Trust, among others.
Martin Sued is an Argentine bandoneonist, composer, and arranger currently based in Portugal. Besides his work as a soloist with various European and South American orchestras in chamber and symphonic music concerts—performing both his compositions and works by Astor Piazzolla—Sued has an impressive history of collaborations with renowned musicians such as Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento, and Yamandu Costa, with whom he frequently collaborates in the trio Encontro Iberoamericano. As a solo artist, Sued’s work has culminated in the 2018 release of an album and is also featured in the septet Martin Sued & Orquestra Assintomática.
Albert Cirera is an eclectic and adventurous Spanish saxophonist with strong ties to Portugal, recognized as a prominent figure in Iberian jazz. His musical journey spans various jazz genres and the hybrid territories of improvisation. Over the last twenty years, Cirera has developed projects and collaborations including the duo DUOT with drummer Ramon Prats, and creative partnerships with a diverse group of musicians such as Andy Moor, Abdul Moimeme, João Lencastre, Valeria Miracapillo, and Florian Stoffener, among many others.