Jacinta (Portugal)

Her voice has the earthy quality of blues as well as the particular flexibility of swing and her technical/performative quality clearly sets her apart from any "usual" jazz singer. Jacinta can move between bossa nova and Latin rock, draw from her own Portuguese folk tradition or perform a Monk composition, give it all to a soul ballad or a Bob Marley song. All this through an approach that reveals perfect musical training but also enormous interpretative sensitivity. Jacinta has a background, with classical training in piano and composition, participation in progressive rock groups and, finally, full flowering of her qualities in the field of jazz. Her recent album, 'Songs of Freedom', places her at the forefront of contemporary jazz singers.