“ ‘Fonte Grande’ was a homeward journey (in every sense) made with affection, respect, and humility, overcoming the constraints of time and resources. The record is above all a work of creation and of search (not of research) that intends to establish a dialogue between two generations of women (ours and our grandmothers'), having traditional music as a starting point to understand change, change for the better, change still to be made, and change that is perhaps undesired”. This is how María Villanueva, Vânia Couto, Yoshida Carvalho, Lucas de Centi, and Sandra Pérez describe the fourth album released through XJazz- Encontros do Jazz and resulting from an artists’ residence, which took place in July 2019, in the Barroca Aldeia do Xisto located on the banks of the Zêzere river. The album can be bought and heard HERE.

The story of Fonte Grande is the story of thehappy encounter between María Villanueva and Vânia Couto and their joint return to their roots, where women play a fundamental role. The opportunity came in 2019, with an invitation to be artists in residence at Barroca. Although they had thought of a project involving primarily the two of them, exploring the chemistry resulting from their first meetings and the collecting trips in Galicia and in the Aldeias do Xisto, ultimately three more guest musicians would join the residency, who, with their contribution made it evident that this was a collaborative work. Yoshida Carvalho (electric bass), Lucas de Centi (vibraphone), and Sandra Pérez (percussion) played a fundamental role in the emergence of a group sound that, respecting the starting point in traditional Galician and Portuguese music, opened itself to the world, much through the influence of Maria Villanueva's arrangements and the performance of group members with a jazz background.

"The release of this 4th album gives us great satisfaction. 'Fonte Grande' is an emotional journey to the musical roots of our villages and brings us a beautiful and singular sound, stimulated by immersion and exchange between artists and people. This has been the main goal of our partnership with Jazz ao Centro Club, which has provided so many creations and unique moments", says Rui Simão, executive director of ADXTUR - Schist Villages Tourism Development Agency.

The album was made using recordings in Galicia and Portugal. In Ponteareas and Mondariz (near the Portuguese border), Maria and Vânia were guided by Ilda Amoedo, manager of the Centro de Recuperación da Cultura Popular de Ponteareas, based in the Vila Sobroso castle. In the Aldeias do Xisto, Leonor Narciso and the Adufeiras da Casa do Povo de Paúl help was fundamental. It also counted on special appearances by Adufeiras da Casa do Povo do Paúl, Catarina Moura and Maria João.

Technical Data Sheet

TITLE
Fonte Grande

MARÍA VILLANUEVA (guitar, voice)
VÂNIA COUTO (guitar, voice)
LUCAS DE CENTI (vibraphone, synthesizer)
SANDRA PÉREZ (percussion)
YOSHIDA CARVALHO (electric bass)

SPECIAL MENTIONS
Adufeiras da Casa do Povo do Paúl (track 4)
Catarina Moura (track 6)
Maria João (track 11)

SONGS
1. Canção da Roda (Traditional)
2. Desenrola o teu cabelo (Traditional)
3. Vindimas (Traditional)
4. Farrapeira (Traditional)
With participation of the Adufeiras da Casa do Povo de Paúl
5. Jota de san Xusto (Traditional)
6. Muiñeira de Mondariz and Meder (Traditional)
With participation of Catarina Moura
7. Mazurca das Cortellas (Traditional)
8. Cantar à meia noite dos Açores/Cantigueiras da Galiza (Traditional)
9. No soy de aquí ni de allá (María Villanueva)
10. Caixa de sapatos (Vânia Couto)
11. Canción de bañar la luna/Canções de embalar (M. Elena Walsh)
With participation of Maria João

RECORDING
Homem do Saco Studios (Fundão), from 29 July to 2 August 2019

Arranged by María Villanueva, except for "Cantar à meia noite" and "Canción de bañar la luna", arranged by Vânia Couto and María Villanueva

PERCUSSION ARRANGEMENTS
Lucas de Centi and Sandra Pérez

ORIGINAL SONGS
“No soy de aquí ni de allá”, by María Villanueva
“Caixa de sapatos”, by Vânia Couto

ENGINEERING AND RECORDING
Francisco Gaspar and José Martins

MIXING AND MASTERING
Francisco Gaspar

EXECUTIVE PRODUCTION
Jazz ao Centro Club

GRAPHIC DESIGN
Joana Monteiro

ILLUSTRATION
Teresa Amaral AKA Mulher Bala (Bullet Woman)