JOSÉ PEIXOTO ( a. 1960 )

José Peixoto has  finished  his studies of Classic Guitar  in the Music Academy of Lisbon, in 1981. Then he has proceeded his practice with Professor Piñero Nagy whereas, at the same time, he was attending  the  classes of  Alberto Ponce’s course of guitar and Alberto Lisy’s course of music of chamber, both of them  included in the International Couses of Music in Costa do Estoril , Portugal . However, before, he had got the disciplines of Percussion, Acoustic, and Musical Education in the National Conservatory of Lisbon.

He has tought in the Music Academy of Lisbon for ten years.
As lute player he was a member of the “La Batalla”, a group of ancient music conducted by Pedro Caldeira Cabral, and recorded  with them “Cantigas de Amigo”, a very reported work  in Portugal.

Still playing lute José Peixoto performed six songs of Martin Codax ( XIII Century) in the work of the portuguese “soprano” Helena Afonso, conducted by Manuel Pedro Ferreira.
As musician, and composer  he worked with the most important names of the Portuguese Music such as  Maria João, Janita Salomé, José Mário Branco, Vitorino, Júlio Pereira, Pedro Caldeira Cabral, Rui Veloso, Madredeus, and many others.

José Peixoto was one of the founders of the instrumental music group “SHISH” and its main composer. They have recorded,  in “trio”,  the LP “ Espaços” in 1987 with the special guest Carlos Zingaro, violinist.
One year later he  has created the compositions  that were recorded in the CD “El Fad” with the cooperation of the musicians Mário Laginha, Mário Barreiros , Carlos Bica, José Martins and the German saxophonist Martin Fredebeul.

“Cal Viva“ was the next CD of José Peixoto who also founded, in 1989, with the jazz contabass player Carlos Bica,  the band  with the same name  “Cal Viva”. With this Band they made several tournées and they have participated in jazz festivals in Europa and Macau (Asia ).

However, in the end of 1989 he creates the group of chamber  “Trio de Guitarras de Lisboa” with the musicians José Mesquita Lopes and António Ferreirinho and all togheter participate, among many other events, in the VIII and XIX Festivals of music “ Music in Leiria” and  in the 17^th. Music Festival, in Estoril. They were also recorded to Radio and Television programs.

In the begining of 1990,  José Peixoto and Nuno Rebelo, togheter, composed the music to the dance “Alto Contraste” performed by “ Dança Grupo” in the “Caloust Gulbenkian Foundation”, Lisbon .

In 1991 wrote the music to the dance “Núcleo”, presented by the coreograph Magarida Serrão in the 3^rd. Dance Mostra -  Festival Acarte ( C.G.Foundation).

In 1991 José Peixoto, “Cal Viva”, the jazz singer Maria João and the pianist Mário Laginha  had concerts all over the Europe and recorded a CD – “Sol” - to the German editor ENJA.

In 1992 creates a new trio with the guitarist Mário Delgado and the percussionist José Salgueiro. In 1993 a new CD called “Taifa” was recorded by the trio.

José Peixoto composed to the “Companhia de Dança de Almada - Contemporary Dance Company” the music for the dance “Vozes Caladas”, by the choreographer Amélia Bentes, performed in May 1993.

Since 1993 he has integrated the group “MADREDEUS” and they have recorded the CDs “Espírito da Paz”, “Ainda”, “O Paraíso”, “O Porto”, “Movimento”, “Amor infinito” and “Faluas do Tejo”. José Peixoto has played all over the world in concerts with “Madredeus”.

In 1993, José Peixoto created and developed the project of music for children “Bom dia Benjamim”, which was sung by the jazz singer Maria João, and had the cooperation of the musicians José Salgueiro, as co-producer; Paulo Curado, as musician and composer; José Mário Branco, as musician, composer and orchestrater. . This CD,  that integrates a story book with the same name, also had the works of the creative designer Cristina Sampaio and of the writer and scripter  Nuno Artur Silva.

In 1996 José Peixoto recorded his first solo guitar work with their own compositions named “Vozes dos Passos” in the old Church of Cartuxa , in Caxias , Portugal .

“Vida de Um dia” was his second  solo guitar CD with their own compositions and it was recorded in 1998.
In the year 2000 creates the CD of originals “O que me diz o espelho de àgua”  with the accompaniment of the musician Mário Franco, contrabass.

This same year the  “Musicoteca” publishes the album “Amarelos e outros tons” which includes eight peices for classical guitar (one of them, the one that gives the name to the album, was the piece required to the examen to enter in the Course of Guitar of the Lisbon’s Music High School).

In 2002 was recorded by José Peixoto and Fernando Júdice the CD “Carinhoso” based in the work of  the Brazilian Pixinguinha, one of the most creative composers from that country and well considered the father of the brazilian “chorinho”. In this CD some musics were sung by Maria João, Manuela Azevedo and Luis Represas’ voices.

2003 is the year of the appearing of the CD “Aceno”, where the José Peixoto’s inviteds were the american guitarist Ralph Towner and the portuguese singers Manuela Azevedo and Filipa Pais . The singer Sérgio Godinho wrote the words of “Caixinha de Pandora” sang by Manuela Azevedo.

In 2004 José Peixoto wrote 14 songs for the singer Filipa Pais and they made the CD “Estrela”. João Monge and José Peixoto wrote the lyrics.

One year later, José Peixoto record a group of 13 improvisations and invite the violinist Carlos Zíngaro to join him, playing over that recorded music. The CD “Cacus” was born and released at that year of 2005.

2006 is the year of “PELE”, CD with the jazz singer Maria João. Eleven songs with lyrics by Tiago Torres da Silva, Eugénia de Vasconcellos and José Peixoto