ORQUESTRA JAZZ DE MATOSINHOS - OJM #0 (REISSUE)
The prelude to the discography of Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos, reissued.

Released exclusively in digital format and available free of charge on the OJM website in 2005, the big band's first recording was a self-published edition that marked the first chapter of its history.

Pedro Guedes and Carlos Azevedo, composers, musical directors, and producers of the album, highlighted what was the focus of the first years of the then new orchestra, centered on the interpretation and creation of original repertoire for big band by its leaders. At the time, music for this formation and jazz in general were taking serious steps forward in Portugal, something that deserves to be taken into account in this context. An example of this is the creation of the first jazz course in Portugal, precisely at the hands of Carlos Azevedo and Pedro Guedes, in 2001, just one year before the recording of this album.

The record includes live performances from the big band’s very first concert, in 1997, at the Heritage Café, namely “Abertura” and “Saco Amarelo,” both by Pedro Guedes, and songs such as “Labirinto,” “Oube Lá,” “Heritage” and “Noite” by Carlos Azevedo, as well as “Aguarela” by Pedro Guedes, which would later become part of the big band's repertoire, performed in concerts throughout Portugal and Galicia until the date of this release.

The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Mário Barreiros in his studio and featured more than a handful of musicians who are still part of the ensemble, such as saxophonists José Luís Rego, Rui Teixeira, and Mário Santos, trumpeter Rogério Ribeiro, trombonists Álvaro Pinto and Gonçalo Dias, and their musical director Pedro Guedes, who also takes on the artistic direction and conducts the orchestra.

OJM#0 is reissued in June 2025 by CARA on digital platforms, revealing the prologue to the dynamic growth of the big band, which can now be heard again, 20 years after its first release.


Composed, Arrenged and Musical Direction
Carlos Azevedo and Pedro Guedes

Woodwinds: José Luís Rego, Rui Teixeira, Mário Santos, Fernanda Alves, Mário Brito
Flute: Olavo Tengner
Trumpets: Hugo Alves, Miguel Reis Lima, Rogério Ribeiro, Susana Santos Silva, José Silva
Trombones: David Silva, Paulo Perfeito, Álvaro Pinto, Pedro Mendes
Bass Trombone: Gonçalo Dias, Jorge Freitas
Piano: Carlos Azevedo, Pedro Guedes
Guitar: Paulo Pinto
Double Bass: António Augusto Aguiar
Drums: Acácio Cardoso
Percussion: Andrés "Pancho" Tarabbia

Produced by Carlos Azevedo e Pedro Guedes
Recorded by Mário Barreiros, MB Estúdio, 6-7 Abril e 4-5 Maio 2002
Mixed and Mastered by Mário Barreiros
Design by Daniela Cidade
Executive Production by Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos


Self-Release · 2005
CARA 012 · 2025
Digital