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 Biography 1 - Biography 2 Shorter version MOREIRA CHONGUICA 31 year old Moreira Chonguica is a celebrated Cape Town based musician, originally from Mozambique. Moreira located to Cape Town to further his music studies 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 in Ethnomusicology (cum laude) in 2000. Since his move to Cape Town, Moreira has established an impressive list of credits to his name. Moreira's debut album, THE MOREIRA PROJECT Vol 1 - The Journey was released in December 2005 and has been received with overwhelming response from the industry as well as 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 come true for Moreira. States an elated 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 Mozamibican 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 has created a new awakening in jazz lovers as well as capturing a niche for the 'fresh ear'. 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 which he attended as a youth. Whenever he goes back to Maputo, he makes sure to spend some time at the school conducting workshops. 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 additiona, 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.
As saxophonist for Jimmy Dludlu from 1999 - 2004, he participated in various international festivals such as: He has performed on numerous CD's with top SA musicians like Alvin Dyers, Jimmy Dludlu, Loading Zone, Stewart Sukuma, Mabulu Project and Wanda Baloyi.
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. This funky, hip and happening musician is full of energy and passion and it shows when he plays that sax, whatever the occasion, whatever the event. In 2007, Moreira's debut album THE MOREIRA PROJECT Vol 1 The Journey was nominated for three SOUTH AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS namely BEST INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM, BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM and BEST PRODUCER for MOREIRA CHONGUICA and co-producer MARK FRANSMAN. It was with great excitement that the album won the award for BEST PRODUCER. It was an honour indeed for a debut album produced by an independent record label.
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High resolution press photographs.