Júlio Resende
Pianist and composer
A piano without borders
Between jazz, fado and the freedom to improvise.
Júlio Resende is a Portuguese pianist and composer who brings together the freedom of jazz and the expressive power of fado. Improvisation lies at the heart of a path that reaches into Portuguese song, electronics and poetry.
In Amália por Júlio Resende (2013) he offers a piano reading of Amália Rodrigues’ repertoire. The album received a Choc from Classica magazine and includes ‘Medo’, a dialogue between the piano and Amália’s recorded voice.
Júlio Resende
With Júlio Resende Fado Jazz Ensemble (Sony Music, 2020) and Filhos da Revolução (ACT Music, 2023) he turns fado into material for improvisation. With the Fado Jazz Ensemble he has played Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, the Kölner Philharmonie and the Philharmonie Luxembourg; in a duo with Bruno Chaveiro, he took piano and Portuguese guitar to Expo 2025 Osaka.
He has recorded with Salvador Sobral, crossed paths with Sílvia Pérez Cruz, joined music and words with Júlio Machado Vaz, explored Fernando Pessoa’s English poetry and composed for the HBO series Foodie Love.
New in 2026 · Trio Ibérico. With Romeu Tristão on double bass and the Catalan drummer Jorge Rossy, a former member of Brad Mehldau’s trio. The album Bridges Not Walls, released on 1 October 2026, brings together jazz, fado and songs of collective memory, from Zeca Afonso to Bob Dylan and the Beatles.
Selected discography
Click a cover to listen on Spotify.
2026 · Filhos da Madrugada / Canto Moço — Single · Bridges Not Walls
2025 · Piano Português Namora Guitarra Portuguesa — with Bruno Chaveiro
2023 · Fado Jazz — Filhos da Revolução
2020 · Júlio Resende Fado Jazz Ensemble
2018 · Cinderella Cyborg — Sony Music
2017 · Alexander Search
2016 · Poesia Homónima
2015 · Fado & Further (Ao vivo)
2013 · Amália por Júlio Resende
Projects and programmes
Piano Português
The piano sings the songs of Portugal: fado melodies, classical pianism and jazz improvisation, ending with ‘Medo’ and Amália’s voice.
View the project EPK → Instrumental concert · piano and Portuguese guitarPiano Português Namora Guitarra Portuguesa feat. Bruno Chaveiro
Instrumental concert: fado melodies audiences know, transformed by Júlio Resende’s piano and Bruno Chaveiro’s Portuguese guitar.
View the project EPK → Quartet · piano, Portuguese guitar, double bass and drumsFado Jazz – Sons of Revolution
A fado jazz quartet celebrating the freedom won in April 1974 and Portugal’s ties with Africa, built on the 2023 album.
View the project EPK → Bridges Not Walls · released on 1 October 2026Trio Ibérico feat. Jorge Rossy
With Romeu Tristão and drummer Jorge Rossy, of Brad Mehldau’s trio: jazz, fado and songs of collective memory.
View the project EPK →On stage & in the studio
▶ Watch video Filhos da Madrugada / Canto Moço
▶ Watch video Blowin’ in the Wind (Bridges, not Walls)
Photography: ACT / Hugo Silva, Simon Hipkins (recording sessions, 2025)
Stages and festivals
“What Júlio Resende does with fado at the solo piano reminds me of what Keith Jarrett does with jazz standards.”
— Antonio Muñoz Molina · El País
“An exceptional sound and, above all, the voice of fado flowing through the fingers of the young Portuguese pianist.”
— Franck Mallet · Classica
“I love Júlio’s piano. One day I will record something (or some things) with him.”
“Amo o piano de Júlio. Ainda hei-de gravar alguma(s) coisa(s) com ele.”
— Caetano Veloso · Observador
Bring Júlio Resende’s music to your stage.
International booking: Ars Luminae