Julho é de Jazz: Pedro Melo Alves’ Omniae Large Ensemble

The Omniae Large Ensemble, led by drummer and composer Pedro Melo Alves, presents a new chapter in a project which, over the last decade, has established itself as one of the most unique examples of the fusion between contemporary composition and jazz improvisation in Portugal.

Originally formed as a septet and awarded the Bernardo Sassetti Composition Prize in 2016, the ensemble expanded in 2020, following a commission from Guimarães Jazz, into an orchestral line-up bringing together some of the most prominent musicians of the new European generation. The album Lumina (Clean Feed, 2021) received widespread international critical acclaim, being named Best New Group in the El Intruso International Critics Poll, Best National Album by Jazz.pt and nominated for Best Jazz Album at the 2022 Vodafone Play Awards.

The new ensemble, making its debut at Theatro Circo, brings together seventeen musicians active in cities such as Porto, Lisbon, Berlin, New York, Bern and Amsterdam, hailing from diverse artistic scenes, ranging from jazz and improvised music to contemporary, experimental and electronic music. Structured along the lines of contemporary chamber music, the ensemble combines detailed notation with spaces for real-time composition, where each performer takes an active role in shaping the musical discourse.