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Multi-award winning Moreira Chonguica (33) is a celebrated Cape Town based musician, originally from Mozambique.
Moreira located to Cape Town to further his music studies where he graduated from the University of Cape Town's South African College of Music with a degree in jazz performance and an honours degree in Ethnomusicology (cum laude) in 2000. He is a prolific researcher and is fascinated by traditional music from different parts of the world. Some examples of samples that he has collected can be found in his latest album THE MOREIRA PROJECT VOL 2 CITIZEN OF THE WORLD that was released in October 2008. The album features some of the finest talents in the industry all of whom have contributed and added their unique sounds and passion to create an exceptional product.
These include Lion of Africa - Manu Dibango, top smooth American jazz artist, Najee, up and coming hip hop artist, Simba; and well known local vocalist, Jaco Maria.
All the photographs on the album sleeve are by well known artist and photographer, Zwelethu Mthethwa. The album was mixed in Cape Town and mastered by Phillipe Brun in Paris, France.
Instrumentation:
Saxophone
Genre:
jazz, African Jazz, fusion
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This album has just been nominated for three SA Music Awards namely Best Contemporary Jazz, Best Producer and Best Album Packaging.
On the first weekend of May 09, The Moreira Project Vol 2 - Citizen of the World won the SA Music Awards for BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ and BEST ALBUM PACKAGING.
Another recent highlight was being asked to play in Rio de Janiero as the only African on the show honouring Brazilian maestro Silvio Barbarto who was tragically killed on the Air France plane that crashed into the ocean in May 2009.
Moreira's debut album, THE MOREIRA PROJECT Vol 1 - The Journey, was released in January 2006 and has been received with overwhelming response from the industry as well as the media on both local and international levels. The album expresses not only his phenomenal song writing ability and energetic performances but also his major personal coup of securing the support and talent of international jazz legend - NAJEE on several tracks.
Working with such an accomplished musician is a dream come true for Moreira. States an elated Moreira, "Najee and I first met at the B.E.T Festival in Durban a few years ago. Then a year later we both performed at the Joy of Jazz Festival. We spoke at length and he promised to send me a better saxophone. True to his word, he actually did! It arrived on 13 December 2003 - I will never forget the date or the gesture. This is someone I grew up listening to, along with the likes of Grover Washington Jr and others. And now here I am Mozamibican born and bred, buttered in Cape Town ... with this legend coming halfway around the planet to perform on my album. It's just unbelievable"
The album specialises in contemporary African fusion jazz and was recorded by Moreira's own independent recording label, MoreStar Entertainment (Pty) Ltd. Produced by Mark Fransman and Moreira, the album has created a new awakening in jazz lovers as well as capturing a niche for the 'fresh ear'.
Not only is Moreira a consummate performer, but he is also strongly involved in the promotion of education. When the album was launched in his home town of Maputo, he donated R10 000 to start a campaign to renovate the Escola Nacional de Musica (National School of Music) the school which he attended as a youth. Whenever he goes back to Maputo, he makes sure to spend some time at the school conducting workshops.
In Cape Town Moreira is involved with a community school in Kensington called Xulon Musictech run by Camillo Lombard and Ezra Delport. Here he teaches saxophone and life skills to young aspiring musicians on a regular basis. In additiona, he tutors young aspiring saxophonists free of charge on an ad hoc basis.
In 2000 Moreira was chosen by City of Chicago to be part of the Cultural Exchange programme co-ordinated by Ernest Dawkins alongside a few other South African musicians.
In 2002, he was runner up in the annual Adcock Ingram Jazz Competition run through UCT.
Contact Details:
Visit Moreira Chonguica's Website for more info
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Recordings : Chonguica, Moreira(Moreira Project)
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2005
The Journey
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click here for more about these and other recordings by : Chonguica, Moreira
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