Mário Franco

Born in 1965, he started music lessons at the age of 4 in Centro de Estudos Gregorianos.

He studied music theory with Maria José Godinho and after moved to Academia de Amadores de Música where he continued his studies in music theory with Cristina Brito da Cruz, started to study double bass and chamber music with Fernando Flores and composition with Pedro Rocha.

In 1986-87 attended double-bass courses given by Ludwig Streicher in Estoril and in 1988 won 1st prize in the Prémio Jovens Músicos (Young Musicians Competition); later became a member of Orquestra Sinfónica Juvenil where he worked on classical repertory with conductor Christopher Bochmann.

Also worked with conductors Silva Pereira, Miguel Graça Moura, Roberto Perez, Michel Swierczewski and Cesário Costa.

He subsequently became interested in Jazz. After having bass guitar lessons with António Ferro he began taking Double bass lessons at Hot Club Jazz School with David Gausden and playing in jam sessions; also took part in workshops with Rufus Reid, Niels Henning, Orsted Pederson, Eberhard Weber, Dave Holland, Gary Burton, Roland Hanna, David Liebman among others…

In 1990 presented his first project based on original compositions and was awarded 1st prize for his group and 2nd prize for composition in the competition “A Juventude e a Música“ (Young People and Music). His eclectic musical education has enabled him, since the 90’s, to work in many different projects, within diverse musical contexts, with artists such as:

Pedro Caldeira Cabral, Miguel Amaral, Ricardo Rocha, António Chaínho, José Peixoto, Early and Contemporary Music Consort “Sete Lágrimas”, Vera Morais and Francisco Sassetti, Miguel Azguime, Carminho, Maro, Camané, Sérgio Godinho, Vitorino, Uxia, Lura, José Manuel Barreto, Sofia Vitória, Maria Ana Bobone, Filipa Pais, Bernardo Sassetti, Mário Laginha, Luis Figueiredo, Luis Barrigas, João Paulo Esteves da Silva, Dan Hewson, António Pinho Vargas, Jarmo Savolainen, Júlio Resende, Carlo Morena, Carlos Martins, Tomás Pimentel, Maria João, Tommy Halferty, John Wadham, Luigi Waites, Sérgio Pelágio, André Sousa Machado, André Fernandes, António Pinto, Desidério Lázaro, Andy Sheppard, Daniel Erdmann, Zlatko Kaućić, Samuel Rohrer, Ralph Peterson Jr., Markku Ounaskari, Myra Melford, Jon Irabagon, Peter Epstein, David Binney, Paolo Fresu, Ralph Towner, Joel Harrison, Graham Haynes… Has performed outside Portugal in some of the most important music festivals in China, Japan, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic, Greece, Norway, Russia, Brazil

In 2006 Tone of a Pitch Records edited his first CD as a leader, “This Life”, with Jesse Chandler (piano, hammond organ and melodica), André Fernandes (guitar), João Lencastre (drums), João Gomes (rhodes, sinthetizer, laptop) and includes NY based David Binney (alto saxophone). This recording was well received by the Portuguese public and critics, and was considered by the American magazine All About Jazz, to be the second best CDs of 2006.

“Our Door” is Mário Franco’s new album for TOAP Records as a leader realized in 2013 and includes Sérgio Pelágio (guitar) and André Sousa Machado (drums).

In 2017 "Rush" is his new album as a leader for Nischo Records, with Sérgio Pelágio (guitar), Óscar Graça (piano and electronics), Luís Figueiredo (rhodes, hammond organ, philicorda, other keyboards) and Alexandre Frazão (drums, percussion).

As a co-leader he recorded in 2013 "Cine Qua Non" for TOAP Records with Paula Sousa (piano), Afonso Pais (guitar) and João Paulo Esteves da Silva (accordion).

"Brightbird" in 2017 for Arjuna Records with João Paulo Esteves da Silva (piano) and Samuel Rohrer (drums).

In 2019 Mario Franco together with Rita Maria (voice) and Luís Figueiredo (piano) decided to form "Roda Music - Independent Music Label" and in the same year launched their first album "Círculo" which was also the first album released with this label.

He composes for Dance and Theatre, and since 2013 also for Cinema. Mário Franco is also a professional dancer.

In 1986  started his professional activity in Companhia Nacional de Bailado CNB, first as an apprentice then promoted progressively to corps de ballet, demi-soliste and is currently a principal dancer since 1995.

In 2015 he also was part of the team responsible for the creation of the project “A Fada Oriana” (Ballet for Schools) based on the fairy tale by portuguese author Sophia de Mello Breyner.

In 2017 he started a new dance/music project for Schools (CNB National Ballet of Portugal / São Carlos Theatre) in collaboration with his colleague musician/composer Duncan Fox and dancers Catarina Lourenço, Mariana Paz, Maria João Pinto. Together they created “Kamiyo do Rio” based on a tradicional African story. He also choreographed and danced "Ensaio em Estudo" a video in honour of Anna Mascolo. He has been invited to choreograph for video projects, as for example "Ícaro" for singer Inês Pimenta.

As a principal dancer of the National Ballet of Portugal he has been invited to give classes and to judge dance competitions in several schools and academic institutions across the country.

Mario Franco has taken part in more than 50 record editions in the most  diverse musical backgrounds, from classical to jazz, both as a leader and as a sideman.