Moreira Chonguica

Early life

Moreira was born in Matola just outside Maputo, the capital of Mozambique on 13 February 1977.

In order to continue his music studies Moreira moved to Cape Town in South Africa, where he graduated from the University of Cape Town’s South African College of Music with a degree in jazz performance and an honours degree (summa cum laude) in ethnomusicology in 2000.

In Cape Town, Moreira has established an impressive list of credits to his name.

Recording career

Moreira's debut album, The Moreira ProjectT Vol 1–The Journey was released in December 2005 and received overwhelming response from the industry as well as from the media on both local and international levels. The album expresses not only his phenomenal song writing ability and energetic performances but also his major personal coup of securing the support and talent of international jazz legend Najee on several tracks.

Working with such an accomplished musician is a dream coming true for Moreira:

Najee and I first met at the B.E.T Festival in Durban a few years ago. Then a year later we both performed at the Joy of Jazz Festival. We spoke at length and he promised to send me a better saxophone. True to his word, he actually did! It arrived on 13 December 2003—I will never forget the date or the gesture. This is someone I grew up listening to, along with the likes of Grover Washington Jr and others. And now here I am Mozambican born and bred, buttered in Cape Town...with this legend coming halfway around the planet to perform on my album. It’s just unbelievable.

The album specialises in contemporary African fusion jazz and was recorded by Moreira’s own independent recording label, MoreStar Entertainment (Pty) Ltd. Produced by Mark Fransman and Moreira, the album created a new awakening in jazz lovers as well as capturing a niche for the "fresh ear". Moreira Chonguica played at UCT.

Other interests

Not only is Moreira a consummate performer, but he is also strongly involved in the promotion of education. When the album was launched in his home town of Maputo, he donated R10 000 to start a campaign to renovate the Escola Nacional de Musica (National School of Music)—the school he attended as a youth. Whenever he goes back to Maputo, he makes sure to spend some time at the school conducting workshops.

Community work and teaching

In Cape Town Moreira is involved with a community school in Kensington called Xulon Musictech run by Camillo Lombard and Ezra Delport. Here he teaches saxophone and life skills to young aspiring musicians on a regular basis. In addition, he tutors young aspiring saxophonists free of charge on an ad hoc basis.

In 2000, Moreira was chosen by City of Chicago to be part of the Cultural Exchange programme co-ordinated by Ernest Dawkins alongside a few other South African musicians.

In 2002, he was runner up in the annual Adcock Ingram Jazz Competition run through UCT.

The Moreira Project

Since 2005 he has led his own band The Moreira Project which has played at most of Southern Africa’s top festivals namely:

These in addition to numerous corporate, government and private events. Moreira’s band comprises some of Cape Town’s hottest young jazz musicians.

South African Music Awards (SAMAs)

In 2007, Moreira’s debut album The Moreira Project Vol 1 - The Journey was nominated for three South Africa Music Awards: Best Instrumental Album, Best Contemporary Jazz Album and Best Producer for Moreira Chonguica and co-producer Mark Fransman, winning the Best Producer award.

The 2009 follow-up, The Moreira Project Vol 2 - Citizen of the World was also nominated for three SAMAs: Best Album Design, Best Contemporary Jazz Album and Best Producer for Moreira Chonguica and co-producer Mark Fransman. This time he won two, Best Contemporary Jazz Album and Best Producer.

Discography