João Arrobas
Pianist | Composer
João Arrobas is a Portuguese pianist and composer based in Bern, Switzerland, currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Composition at the Hochschule der Künste Bern under the mentorship of Andreas Schaerer and Stefan Schultze. He previously completed his Master in Jazz Performance under Django Bates, following a Bachelor's in Jazz Piano from ESMAE in Porto and more than ten years of classical training in Bragança.
Since relocating to Switzerland, he has brought original music to stages such as the International Jazz Festival Bern with CECO Quartet and Espar. His main artistic project, QUICKSAND, navigates undefined genres and musical textures while staying grounded in the language and tradition of jazz, and giving a platform to his creative voice as bandleader. He has also collaborated with several Big Bands in northern Portugal, most notably with the Orquestra Jazz de Espinho alongside guest artists such as Elliot Mason and João Barradas.
Drawing from influences like Bill Evans and Tigran Hamasyan, João’s music blends lyricism, rhythmic complexity, and strong melodic identity, deepened by his classical roots and a personal connection to Portuguese folk traditions.
Bio
Projects
Espar
Through waves of consonance and dissonance, we aim to reflect the depth of the work of female poets such as Edna St. Vincent Millay in beautifully [dis]organized music.
Ruiqi Wang - voice; Joshua LeBlac-Demers - drums;João Arrobas - piano; Ulysse Loup - electric bassLucien Palak Quartet
Saxophonist and composer Lucien Palak's music blends sensibility and force, creating melodic arcs within sound and silence. Rooted in Jazz, his multi-faceted compositions range from sharply written heads and atonal free improvisation to fully composed duo pieces with quirky rhythms and challenging harmonies. This is what this 4tet is set to explore, making room for creativity and self-expression.
Lucien Palak - tenor sax; Marcel Maffli - double bass;
João Arrobas - piano; Joshua LeBlanc-Demer- drums
QUICKSAND
QUICKSAND is an international quintet led by João Arrobas, blending jazz roots with unexpected detours into dance rhythms, classical lyricism, and experimental soundscapes. Their music plays with the tension between control and chaos, determined in its will to be free.
João Arrobas - piano, keys; Gianni Narduzi - double, electric bass; Damien Kuntz - drums; Lucien Palak - tenor sax, flute; Mattia Faccini - alto sax flute; Music
Espar
Studio Recording
Live highlights
Lucien Palak Quartet
Alessandro Alarcon Trio
João Arrobas Trio
Solo performance
Photos
By: Maria João Lavoura
By: Maria João Lavoura
By: Maria João Lavoura
By: Maria João Lavoura
By: Anna Studer
By: Stefanie Kunckler
Concerts
2024
August
18.08 Banda Filarmónica de Bragança feat. Herman José - Festas de Bragança (PT)
September
03.09 Quicksand - Master Recital - HKB Auditorium (CH)
Upcoming Events
Past Events (selection)
-
18.06 Lucien Palak Quartet - Bachelor Recital - HKB Auditorium (CH)
05.06 Alessandro Alarcon Trio - Master Recital - HSLU Club Knox (CH)
02.06 Bern Art Ensemble - Pop-up Festival - Progr, Bern (CH)
01.06 Pukwuanda - Pop-up Festival - Progr, Bern (CH)
16.05 Lucein Palak Quartet - Chrut u Rüebe - BeJazz, Bern (CH)
03.05 Espar - Studio Recording (CH)
30.04 Solo Performance - HKB Auditorium (CH)
29.04 Jahresprojekt concert - HKB Auditorium (CH)
27.04 Duo performance with Craig Lees - Stimmwelten - Inselspital, Bern (CH)
26-29.03 Espar - Internationales Jazzfestival Bern (BH)
02.03 Bern Art Ensemble - Progr, Bern (CH)
-
07.12 AJO Quartet – Chrut u Rüebe – BeJazz Club, Bern (CH)
24.11 Orquestra Jazz de Espinho feat. João Barradas – Novembro Jazz Festival - São João da Madeira (PT)
03.09 Dual Maps – Concertos na Praça - Bragança (PT)
28.07 Joarrobas Xaviqueira – Festival Setra - Vizela (PT)
01.07 Orquestra Jazz de Espinho feat. Edmar Castaneda – International Music Festival of Espinho (PT)
03.06 Kat-Tog – Pop-up Festival – Progr, Bern (CH)
03.06 New York Contemporaries Ensemble – Pop-up Festival – Progr, Bern (CH)
18.05 Na03Ta – Chrut u Rüebe – BeJazz Club, Bern (CH)
04.05 Solo Performance - Halt auf Verlangen/JazzSpot – Spittelkapelle im Burgerspital, Bern (CH)
20.04 Le Jardin en Mouvement (Alexandra Grimal) – Botanical Garden of the University of Bern (CH)
21-25.03 CECO Quartet - International Jazz Festival of Bern (CH)
-
02.09 TURAHEE – Ar d’Jazz - Arcozelo (PT)
31.08 Orquestra Jazz do Douro – Summer Fest - Sabrosa (PT)
03.08 NTS + RANDOM – Café Concerto Francisco Beja - Porto (PT)
25.06 Orquestra Jazz do Douro – Municipal Hall of Murça (PT)
18.06 Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos – Real Vinícula Square - Matosinhos (PT)
21.05 EJP Ensemble – Citynizer Plaza - Porto (PT)
19.05 EJP Ensemble – Serralves, Porto (PT)
19.03 Orquestra Jazz de Espinho feat. João Barradas – Quartel das Artes - Oliveira do Bairro (PT)
12.03 Orquestra Jazz de Espinho feat. João Barradas – Auditório de Espinho l Academia (PT)
Contact
Reach me at:
joao-612|at|hotmail.com
