Reviews
The Moreira Project: Vol 1 – The Journey
OBRIGADO Issue 5: 2006
Mozambican born, Mother City-based saxophonist, Moreira Chonguiça brings some serious 21st centrury flair back into the South African jazz scene with this proudly pan-African set of salsa funk jazz fusion. It’s an unapologetic diaspora groove celebration with smooth supper club friendly sounds segueing into cool Afro-blue ballads, playful Afro-Latin joins ancestral jazz conversations and more. – Miles Keylock (MK)
Also mapping Jazz’s Beat Routes: Mark Fransman’s Strait and Narro Ahead
JAZZWISE – September 2006
No relation to Airto, Mozambican-born saxophonist, Moreira Chonguica is already a name in South Africa where his Moreira Project specializes in “contemporary African fusion jazz” The reality though is that the 29-year-old’s music is smooth jazz in disguise, complete with very sweet R&B vocal hooks and radio-friendly saxophone jaunts. Yet, as an example of the genre, Moreira’s debut is clearly sophisticated and superior.
In keeping with jazz of Southern Africa, the saxophonist favours songs that sing to the listener – invariably catchy and chorus driven. Not a million miles from the hooks of Marcus Miller or Courtney Pine’s more commercial work, the leader’s juicy saxophone tone is a definite plus – noodling warmly and elegantly over pretty grooves – ‘Tacho da Velha” (Mam\s Cooking) and ‘Africa and the Blues’ Purists should certainly avoid but The Journey’s southern African roots make for an up-beat occasion – Tom Barlow
STUDENT CHOICE – Nov/Dec 2007
Moreira is one cool-ass brother! Hailing from the streets of Maputo in Mozambique, Moreira Chonguiça made the trek to Cape Town where he studied Music and Jazz at UCT’s music school. If the proof is in the pudding, its clear that Moreira’s debut album proves that he really learned all the right notes during those grueling varsity years.
On The Moreira Project, the jazz maestro introduced us to his deep world that is epitomized by the good life, ancestry, social awareness, family and friends. Moreira also roped in the likes of songbird Wanda Baloyi and Grammy nominated Najee, who both added their own interpretation of “urban cool” to the mix!