Primary Instrument:
Fado em Si Bemol formed in 2003. It started out as a project between good friends Paulo Gonçalves, Miguel Silva and Pedro Matos to explore the nontraditional sounds of the music throughout the world using the Portuguese guitar. They played a single show using sounds of Fado and Stevie Wonder. To their surprise, there was a full house and people loved the sounds.
Five musicians with very distinct formation and experience join this project looking forward to find the conducting wire between Portuguese Fado and other music styles. With an informal and unpretentious style, the characteristic formalisms of the different genres are dissolved and doors are open to a loose and cool fusion of musical languages with the magical touch of a Portuguese Guitar. From Fado to Bossa Nova, through Jazz, Morna or Ragtime all the world combined.
The unique sound and the diverse background of the group and their music fueled their growth. They went on to add the double bass and percussions to their group. Fado em Si Bemol’s flavor was so well received not only locally, but in different parts of Europe. The group they played at countless clubs, festivals and made appearances on several Portuguese television shows.
With this success in mind, they release their first album “Live” in 2007. Continuing on the same path their second album “Rec” was released in 2010. With the popularity of both albums the group has now released their third album “QB” in September, 2012.
~Marc Myers, Jazzwax
Radio:
Intimate, sophisticated, charming, with a variety of fine melodies. This Portuguese acoustic quintet covers pieces from Gilberto, Gil to Chick Corea, with an infectious, understated passion. Three songs by the band's vocalist Pedro Matos.
~T. Tintle, WRUV VT.
Fado is very special, I really like the music, the group sounds great.
~Joost van Steen, Radio Alphen, The Netherlands
PRI Feature
Jim Wilke “Jazz After Hours”
Jazz Charts
#3 Top Jazz adds CMJ issue #1271
#3 New World Top Adds issue #1271
#3 CMJ Top New World Adds issue #1274
Reviews:
This is quite compelling and hypnotic music! Is it jazz? Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t - who cares? It's music and very appealing. So I don't know a word of Portuguese - in many ways this adds to the appeal! Without the distraction of the lyric Matos' voice becomes an instrument and a fine instrument it is too! I can't get over it! If I was a woman I'd be swooning! Maybe I should learn Portuguese and I'd have the women swooning - dream on Senor Lance! Seriously, it has the appeal of, say, a French chanson with a jazz backing, but, I don't know, there is just that something extra. Love it. The brainchild behind FADO Em Si Bemol is Goncalves who envisioned combining the soft sounds of jazz with the flare of Portuguese music. That he succeeded is proof in this album. Goncalves, as well as providing interesting lines behind the vocals, has his own feature on Armando's Rumba which also gives Santiesteban a chance to work out. There's some nice piano in there too ... Damn it - the disc is finished! No problem - I'm going to play it again Paulo and again and again. Maybe I'll move to Oporto. What a lovely disc to review - and from Portugal! If there were any justice in the world this disc would put that country back in the red!
~Lance, Bebop Spoken Here
Portuguese guitar dominates the sound of some old favorites from this group and they carefully navigate the harmonic tightrope between the contemporary and traditional roots of their music with intriguing results. The musical resume is undeniable with Fado Em Si Bemol having performed with Ivan Lins, Paquito Rivera and Courtney Pine to drop but a few names. The vibe here would be the smooth jazz equivalent of “chill” with standout tracks including “Matilde,” “Do Nada O Fim” and “Folhetim.” Not speaking Portuguese is simply not a problem here for those that enjoy practising the long lost art of truly listening. The context and lyrical direction of this eclectic quintet tells you everything you need to know further confirming the old adage of music being a universal language. A unique synergy of sound, a balance of color and texture helps propel this release well past the ordinary world music sound into an extraordinary experience for those to share. World music fans should flock to this release in droves and given the almost natural appeal to Latin jazz lovers QB should cut a long path to success with the intoxicating cocktail that is QB!
~Brent Black, Critical Jazz
A delightful record to have handy when cocktails for two on the terrace are in order, this is one of those classy, smart, up market records that’s fun to hear and doesn’t require you to have a Ph.D. in world beat to enjoy. Don’t ask us why, but it works and we dig it.
~Chris Spector, Midwest Record
Fado is a Portuguese quintet featuring vocalist Pedro Matos with Paulo Gonçalves (g), Miguel Silva (Portuguese g), Nuno Campos (b) and Manuel Santiesteban (d, perc). The music has a pleasant feel with bouncy rhythms. The lyrics are in Portuguese ushering a spirit of Mediterranean Latin music.
~D. Oscar Groomes , O's Place Jazz Magazine
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