Born in Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal in 1982, Manuel Maio started playing the violin at the age of five at his hometown music academy. He graduated as a classical violinist at Superior School of Music and Performing Arts of Oporto – ESMAE. His passion for jazz and improvised music took him to France, where he spent one year studying at Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood – CMDL. There, he had the chance to meet and learn from great musicians of French jazz and world music scenes: Didier Lockwood, Olivier Louvel, André Charlier, Benoît Sourisse, Ricardo Herz and Emmanuel Bex to name just a few. Back to Portugal e collaborated in several projects related to jazz/world music and resumed professional activity as classical musician and violin teacher. He recorded with songwriter Teresa Gentil on her second album “Gent’ilesa” (Descalças). As a member of Verazin’s String Quartet he recorded “Movimentos do Subsolo” by prominent Portuguese composer António Pinho Vargas (NUM 1186). His main area of interest is Portuguese Folk Music. Related to that he has created “A Presença das Formigas” in 2007, a band devoted to writing and performing new music inspired by Portuguese musical heritage. His song “O Rei” (performed by A Presença das Formigas) received the Zeca Afonso Prize at the 2009 edition of Cantar Abril Festival (Almada, Portugal), prize awarded to best original song. He also plays Portuguese mandolin and cavaquinho (Portuguese ukelele).
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