About
João Barradas is one of the most reputable and widely acknowledged European accordionists, working simultaneously between classical music, jazz and improvised music.
He has won some of the most prestigious international contests of which, among others, the World Accordion Trophy, which he has won twice, the Coupe Mondale de Acordeão, the International Castelfidardo Contest and the Okud Istra International Competition, stand out.
João Barradas is one of the most outstanding musicians in Jazz accordion, having recorded for the New York record label Inner Circle Music and collaborated with various renowned musicians, namely Greg Osby, Gil Goldstein, Fabrizio Cassol, Mark Colenburg, Jacob Sacks, Sérgio Carolino, Pedro Carneiro, among many others.
In 2016, he records his first album as leader with the New York label Inner Circle Music. “Directions” is produced by Greg Osby and features Gil Goldstein and Sara Serpa. The group is formed by João Barradas (accordion), André Fernandes(guitar), João Esteves da Silva(piano), André Rosinha(double-bass) and Bruno Pedroso(drums).
The Beginning
João Barradas was born in Porto Alto, in the parish of Samora Correia. He initiated his accordion studies at the tender age of six at a small music school in Samora Correia, then gained admission to Instituto de Música Vitorino Matono in Lisbon, and at the age of nine, was admitted directly to the second year of the Official Accordion Course at the National Conservatory, finishing his training with the highest mark of 20/20.
João Barradas has participated in various national and international contests, having done his preparation at the Música Serenata School, directed by Aníbal Freire, one of the most important pedagogues of this instrument at international level. From a very early age, all his capabilities have been notable, such as his absolute pitch, an exemplary technique and an enormous ability to sight-read.
These are the characteristics that have raised the interest of the most important accordionists of our times, allowing João Barradas to study and play at various concert halls, side by side with the biggest names in the History of accordionists; Friederich Lips, Viatcheslav Semyonov, Yuri Shishkin, Richard Galliano, Alexander Dmitriev, Grayson Masefield, Frederic Deschamps, Aydar Gaynullin, Jérôme Richard, Eugénia Lima, Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, Petar Maric, Aude Giuliano, Vitali Dmitriev and Eric Bouvelle, among others.
His growth as an artist has taken place simultaneously with thorough training. In these years of learning, João Barradas has studied counterpoint and composition with Maestro Edgar Saramago and with composer Hugo Ribeiro.
Classical Music
The passion for the accordion and the seriousness in the way João Barradas faces Art, made him find out about the history of this musical instrument. On this impulse, he went through a great deal of literature about this musical instrument, from Varietté music from the 60s, 70s and 80s, to the contemporary compositions by Sofia Gubaidulina. This eclectic choice has resulted in more than 30 contests he has won and innumerous musical collaborations.
In consequence of this theoretical and creative “plunge” and his success in the most important international competitions, he has been working close together for 16 years with the most important concert performers and pedagogues of his instrument, becoming one of the best known young musicians on the international scene.
At the age of only 19 he recorded the CD “Surrealistic Discussion”, created together with Sérgio Carolino. This album marked the beginning of the record career of the young accordionist in the world of erudite music.
Today, João Barradas is one of the most active musicians in contemporary music for the accordion, having worked with the following composers: Pedro Carneiro, Nuno da Rocha, Dimitris Andrikopoulus, Vitorino Matono, Jarmo Sermila, Edgar Saramago, Tuomas Turriago, Joaquim Raposo, Etiene Crausaz, Filipe Melo, André Santos, Jon Hansen, Carlos Azevedo, Carlos Caires and Eugénio Amorim.
Currently, he is working hard on research, transcription and composition of original music for his instrument. At the moment, he is getting his first solo album ready with original compositions by André Santos, A. Letunov, Carlos Azevedo, Carlos Caires, Daniel Davis, Nuno da Rocha and Hugo Ribeiro. The album will be recorded in the first half of 2017.
Jazz and Improvised Music
Improvisation comes to him through listening to historical Jazz accordionists, such as Gil Goldstein, Art Van Damme, Tommy Gumina and Johnny Meijer.
At the age of 10 he started getting the first notions of improvisation through accordionist João Frade.
His extreme curiosity has made him study with the biggest names in Portuguese Jazz, some of whom are real pedagogues, such as João Paulo Esteves da Silva, Afonso Pais, Filipe Melo, Pedro Madaleno, Paula Sousa, Nelson Cascais, André Sousa Machado, Bernardo Moreira, Bruno Santos, among many others.
Internationally, he goes to various workshops and master classes. He knows and works with Mark Turner, Avishai Cohen, Jim Black, Eric Harland, Nir Felder, Carlos Bica, Miguel Zenón, Robin Eubanks, Matt Penman, Stefan Harris and Frank Möbus.
At the same time, he starts being noticed by the top names of American Jazz, such as Nicholas Payton or Walter Smith III and his name comes up at the most important national and international Jazz festivals. João Barradas has collaborated with names such as: Greg Osby, Gil Goldstein, Fabrizio Cassol, Mark Colenburg, Jacob Sacks, Yoav Eshed, Sarpay Ozçagatay.