Maria João

Maria João (born Maria João Monteiro Grancha June 27, 1956, Lisbon, Portugal) is a Portuguese jazz singer. She is known for her vocal flexibility and improvisational skills. While normally considered a jazz artist, her music incorporates a mix of folk/ethnic music, modern jazz, avant-garde, electronica, symphonic and other genres. Although her main musical partner is Portuguese pianist Mário Laginha, she has worked with many musicians throughout her career, including Aki Takase, Manu Katche, Trilok Gurtu, Bobby McFerrin, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Joe Zawinul, Ralph Towner, Dino Saluzzi, Kai Eckhardt, Gilberto Gil and Lenine. Currently, she maintains her long-time collaboration with Mário Laginha, as well as working with Belgian singer David Linx and OGRE, a Portuguese jazz and electronica project.