Mário Franco
Encyclopedia
Mário Franco is a doublebass player and composer
, dancer.
Mário started music lessons at the age of 4 in Centro de Estudos Gregorianos. Continued his studies in Academia de Amadores de Música, and where he started double bass lessons with Fernando Flores, and composition with Pedro Rocha as well as studying chamber music.
Studied bass guitar with António Ferro, Double Bass with David Gausden in Escola de Jazz do Hot Clube de Portugal; and took part in workshops with Rufus Reid
, Niels Henning Orsted Pederson, Eberhard Weber
.
In 1986-87, he attended double-bass courses given by Ludwig Streicher
in Estoril and in 1988 won 1st prize in the Prémio Jovens Musicos (Young Musicians Competition); later became a member of Orquestra Sinfonica Juvenil where he worked on classical repertory with conductor Christopher Bochmann.
Since 1984, he plays jazz and improvised music in Portugal and abroad with musicians such as António Pinho Vargas
, Mário Laginha
, João Paulo Esteves de Silva, Bernardo Sassetti, Carlos Martins
, Tomás Pimentel, José Peixoto, Jarmo Savolainen, Jim Leff, Ralph Peterson Jr., Paolo Fresu
, Andy Sheppard
, Peter Epstein, Ralph Towner
.
In 1990, he presented his first project based on original compositions and was awarded 1st prize for his group and 2nd prize for composition in the competition “A Juventude e a Musica” (Young People and Music).
Has performed outside Portugal for instance in Macau, Japan, Spain, France, Belgium, Norway…Has participated in some of Portugal's most important music festivals such as:
Festival de Música dos Capuchos 1985; Jazz na Cidade 88, 90; Lisboa em Jazz 90;
5 ª Jornadas Internacionais da Oficina Musical 90; Encontros de Jazz do Algarve 91;
16º Encounters Gulbenkian of Contemporary Music 92 (Gulbenkian Foundation);
Jazz no Parque, 3ª edition (Serralves Foundation) 95; Festas de Lisboa 95, 96;
Festa do Avante 90, 94, 96; Seixal Jazz Festival 98, 05;
Festival Internacional de Jazz de Faro in 99 “Jazz no Inverno”; Musicalidades 01;
Jazz em Agosto (Gulbenkian Foundation) 87, 88, 90, 95 and 05;
Maio Jazz Almodôvar 05, 07; 4ª Festa do Jazz 06; Festival de Jazz de Estremoz 06, 08; International Film Festival IndieLisboa 07; 10º Festival de Valado de Frades 07;
11º Matosinhos em Jazz 07; 1º Festival de Jazz de Sines 07; Festival Y#5, 07;
1º Ciclo de concertos “ O Som das Musas” Vila Flôr 07; 2º Festival Internacional de Palmela 07; Mudas Jazz Sessions (Madeira) 08; 1ª Feira de Artes Performativas de Tavira’08; Portugal Jazz 07, 09; Festival Internacional de Música dos Açores 09; 6º Festival Terras sem Sombra
Also composes for Dance and Theatre.
Mário Franco is also a dancer from the National Ballet Company of Portugal (CNB) since 1986.
(Selected CDs):
António Pinho Vargas Quintet and Carlos Martins Quartet: Lisboa em Jazz (CML Pelouro Cultura, 1991);
João Paulo Esteves da Silva Quartet: Serra sem Fim (Farol Música, 1993);
Tomás Pimentel Septet: Descolagem (El Tatu, 1994);
Luz Destino (M.A Recordings, 1996);
José Peixoto: O Que Me Diz o Espelho d’água (Farol Música, 2000);José Peixoto: A Tempo (A Capella, 2001);
José Peixoto: Aceno, featuring Ralph Towner (Zona Música, 2003).
As a Leader:
”This Life” Mario Franco Quintet with David Binney (Tone of a Pitch Records, 2006)
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, dancer.
Mário started music lessons at the age of 4 in Centro de Estudos Gregorianos. Continued his studies in Academia de Amadores de Música, and where he started double bass lessons with Fernando Flores, and composition with Pedro Rocha as well as studying chamber music.
Studied bass guitar with António Ferro, Double Bass with David Gausden in Escola de Jazz do Hot Clube de Portugal; and took part in workshops with Rufus Reid
Rufus Reid
Rufus Reid is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer. He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.-Personal history:...
, Niels Henning Orsted Pederson, Eberhard Weber
Eberhard Weber
Eberhard Weber is a German double bassist and composer. As a bass player, Weber is known for his highly distinctive tone and phrasing...
.
In 1986-87, he attended double-bass courses given by Ludwig Streicher
Ludwig Streicher
Ludwig Streicher was a contrabassist from Vienna, Austria. Familiar to many as the former principal bass of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and leading bass soloist, he is also known as a self-taught instructor and as the author of a popular contrabass textbook.-Career:Entering the Vienna Music...
in Estoril and in 1988 won 1st prize in the Prémio Jovens Musicos (Young Musicians Competition); later became a member of Orquestra Sinfonica Juvenil where he worked on classical repertory with conductor Christopher Bochmann.
Since 1984, he plays jazz and improvised music in Portugal and abroad with musicians such as António Pinho Vargas
António Pinho Vargas
António Pinho Vargas is a Portuguese composer and pianist specialized in the performance and writing of Jazz and as well as Contemporary Music....
, Mário Laginha
Mário Laginha
Mário João Laginha dos Santos, OIH , piano player and composer, is one of the most creative contemporary Portuguese jazz musicians. He is mostly recognized for his recurrent collaborations with fellow Portuguese jazz singer Maria João, with whom he recorded over a dozen discs and toured Portugal...
, João Paulo Esteves de Silva, Bernardo Sassetti, Carlos Martins
Carlos Martins
Carlos Jorge Neto Martins is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Granada CF in Spain, on loan from Sport Lisboa e Benfica.An attacking midfielder, he is noted for his long-range shots.-Sporting:...
, Tomás Pimentel, José Peixoto, Jarmo Savolainen, Jim Leff, Ralph Peterson Jr., Paolo Fresu
Paolo Fresu
Paolo Fresu is a trumpet and flugelhorn jazz player, as well as an arranger of music, and music composer.-Career:Fresu was born in Berchidda, Sardinia. He picked up the trumpet at the age of 11, and played in the band Bernardo de Muro in his home town Berchidda...
, Andy Sheppard
Andy Sheppard
Andy Sheppard is a British jazz saxophonist and composer. He has been awarded several prizes at the British Jazz Awards, and has worked with some notable figures in contemporary jazz, including Gil Evans, Carla Bley, George Russell and Steve Swallow.-Biography:Sheppard was born in Warminster,...
, Peter Epstein, Ralph Towner
Ralph Towner
Ralph Towner is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and bandleader. He plays the twelve-string guitar, classical guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion and trumpet.-Biography:...
.
In 1990, he presented his first project based on original compositions and was awarded 1st prize for his group and 2nd prize for composition in the competition “A Juventude e a Musica” (Young People and Music).
Has performed outside Portugal for instance in Macau, Japan, Spain, France, Belgium, Norway…Has participated in some of Portugal's most important music festivals such as:
Festival de Música dos Capuchos 1985; Jazz na Cidade 88, 90; Lisboa em Jazz 90;
5 ª Jornadas Internacionais da Oficina Musical 90; Encontros de Jazz do Algarve 91;
16º Encounters Gulbenkian of Contemporary Music 92 (Gulbenkian Foundation);
Jazz no Parque, 3ª edition (Serralves Foundation) 95; Festas de Lisboa 95, 96;
Festa do Avante 90, 94, 96; Seixal Jazz Festival 98, 05;
Festival Internacional de Jazz de Faro in 99 “Jazz no Inverno”; Musicalidades 01;
Jazz em Agosto (Gulbenkian Foundation) 87, 88, 90, 95 and 05;
Maio Jazz Almodôvar 05, 07; 4ª Festa do Jazz 06; Festival de Jazz de Estremoz 06, 08; International Film Festival IndieLisboa 07; 10º Festival de Valado de Frades 07;
11º Matosinhos em Jazz 07; 1º Festival de Jazz de Sines 07; Festival Y#5, 07;
1º Ciclo de concertos “ O Som das Musas” Vila Flôr 07; 2º Festival Internacional de Palmela 07; Mudas Jazz Sessions (Madeira) 08; 1ª Feira de Artes Performativas de Tavira’08; Portugal Jazz 07, 09; Festival Internacional de Música dos Açores 09; 6º Festival Terras sem Sombra
Also composes for Dance and Theatre.
Mário Franco is also a dancer from the National Ballet Company of Portugal (CNB) since 1986.
Recordings
As a Side Musician:(Selected CDs):
António Pinho Vargas Quintet and Carlos Martins Quartet: Lisboa em Jazz (CML Pelouro Cultura, 1991);
João Paulo Esteves da Silva Quartet: Serra sem Fim (Farol Música, 1993);
Tomás Pimentel Septet: Descolagem (El Tatu, 1994);
Luz Destino (M.A Recordings, 1996);
José Peixoto: O Que Me Diz o Espelho d’água (Farol Música, 2000);José Peixoto: A Tempo (A Capella, 2001);
José Peixoto: Aceno, featuring Ralph Towner (Zona Música, 2003).
As a Leader:
”This Life” Mario Franco Quintet with David Binney (Tone of a Pitch Records, 2006)