Hugo Alves
Hugo Alves’ musical journey began in Lagos, Portugal, at the age of seven. By the 1990s, he had established himself as a renowned trumpet player, earning recognition both nationally and internationally in the jazz world. His career also extends to producing jazz events and teaching at prestigious institutions, including ESMAE in Porto and ESML in Lisbon, where he leads workshops and mentors aspiring musicians.
Throughout his career, Hugo Alves has had notable stints with the Matosinhos Jazz Orchestra, the Jorge Pinto da Costa Orchestra, and the Hot Clube Portugal Big Band. This journey has provided him the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse array of renowned musicians, including Peter King, Perico Sambeat, Kirk Lightsey, Sangoma Everett, Wayne Dockery, Michael Lauren, Bob Berg, Conrad Herwig, Ingrid Jensen, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Gary Valente, Bernardo Sassetti, Mário Laginha, Silje Nergaard, Júlio Resende, Nuno Ferreira, Jorge Costa Pinto, Benny Golson, Rick Margitza, Dena DeRose, Jeff Davis, Tom Harrell, Jane Monheit, and many more.
In 2003, Hugo Alves released his debut album, Estranha Natureza. The album features original compositions that were widely praised by critics worldwide, which immediately established it as one of the greatest national values in the area of jazz.
In 2004, Hugo Alves founded the Orquestra de Jazz do Algarve, a project that embodies his vision as a musician and highlights the significant role of large-format jazz in his career. Comprising 18 talented musicians, the orchestra is renowned for its excellence, consistently earning rave reviews and drawing packed audiences at each performance. The Algarve Jazz Orchestra has collaborated with numerous distinguished guests and has released several albums, featuring artists such as Jane Monheit, Silje Nergaard, Rick Margitza, Vânia Fernandes, Ana Laíns, and many more.
Alongside his musical career, Hugo Alves has maintained a prominent role as an educator, teaching at the aforementioned institutions as well as at the EJMMA Escola de Jazz e Música Moderna do Algarve. His teaching extends beyond Portugal, with engagements in countries such as Spain, Italy, and South Africa.
In the following years, he released several more albums: Taksi Trio in 2005, Given Soul in 2007, Double Dose in 2010, and Morphosis in 2015. Each of these albums received the most glowing reviews from the specialized press and the unanimous recognition of Hugo Alves as an inescapable reference in the world of jazz. All albums were awarded as “Best of the Year” in our country.
On October 27, 2023, Hugo Alves was honored in his hometown of Lagos with the Medal of Cultural Merit, silver grade, in recognition of his significant contributions to the cultural landscape.
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