ANTONIO ZAMBUJO (EN)

In just a few years, António Zambujo has become an essential artist in his country, and with this new album Do Avesso (Inside out) he explores new musical directions and broadens the boundaries of his repertoire. Throughout his albums, nine to date, Antonio has asserted his various influences. Fascinated by the intensity of Portuguese fado ; in admiration of the great Brazilian singers like João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque but also Chet Baker and his cool jazz, Antonio Zambujo with his singularly beautiful voice is creating a modern yet timeless Portuguese songbook.

Introduced at a very young age to the “Cante Alentejano”, polyphonic work songs typical of southwest Portugal, Antonio Zambujo devoted himself early to the art of the voice. He was 24 years old when Amália Rodrigues died (in 1999) and he tells of crying that day while listening to a record of the departed diva over and over again. “There is one fado before Amália and another after her,” he explains. And it was certainly she who gave him the desire to sing this Portuguese blues that evokes saudade and transcends melancholy. With his neo-fado, which belongs only to him, Antonio Zambujo succeeds in transmitting great emotion, underpinned by an intense inner light and a soft sensuality.

From guitar ballads to the participation of the Sinfonietta de Lisboa Orchestra, he has created the ideal soundtrack for a young and popular Lisbon, joyfully looking to the future and proud of its roots. On stage, he is accompanied by 3 musicians (piano, double bass and Portuguese guitar) for more intimate orchestrations that give him the freedom to express himself where he excels: alone with his guitar in front of his audience.