Maria Mendes

Maria Mendes is a multi-Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated singer from Portugal. She is internationally praised for her vocal adventuresome and uncharted music, defying the genre categorisation.
Hailed by DownBeat magazine as “a jazz singer of the highest order,” Mendes claims successful solo projects with the Metropole Orkest, pianist John Beasley and clarinetist Anat Cohen. The vocalist has released four striking solo albums with her 4Tet, most recently marrying Jazz and Portuguese Fado on the Edison Jazz award-winner “Close To Me” and the live album “Saudade, Colour of Love”, both featuring the Metropole Orkest. Her last album earned Best Jazz Album on Downbeat, Jazziz, Jazzthing, Jazzwise and Jazzism.
With Wayne Shorter’s blessings, Mendes premiered his contemporary jazz piece “Gaia” in Europe alongside the Bielefeld Philharmonieker, saxophonist Magnus Lindgren and John Beasley. Mendes’ song “Inverso,” was featured on the soundtrack of an Emmy-winning tv show.
Maria Mendes has thrilled audiences around the world, from New York City’s iconic Blue Note Jazz Club to grand stages including the world-renowned Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as well as the North Sea and Montreux Jazz Festivals.
Mendes praises have been sung by such legends as Quincy Jones and Hermeto Pascoal.