Julio Resende

“Júlio Resende has the profound ability to reinvent Portugal’s trademark deep, emotional music through the piano,” says the respected world music magazine Songlines of the Portuguese pianist/composer. Resende’s concept of Fado Jazz is a perfect example of how jazz has become a global language for free musical expression – a concept which has been fundamental to ACT ever since its foundation over 30 years ago. The freedom of the Portuguese people is closely associated with the Carnation Revolution of 1974, and Júlio Resende has dedicated “Sons of Revolution” to it. The peaceful overthrow of dictator Salazar not only paved the way for democracy but also marked the end of colonial wars in Mozambique and Angola. “Without the revolution, I wouldn’t even exist,” says Júlio Resende. “My father is from Angola, he emigrated to Portugal after the revolution, and met my mother.”