Marito Marques makes romantic and rhythmic connections with his single and video Manjerico — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
A standout from his latest album A Ponte, the sweet and supple Manjerico (The Bridge) finds the Juno and Grammy-nominated Toronto-based drummer, composer, and producer bridging cultures and eras with the help of Maro and traditional Portuguese group Os Vocalistas.
Utilizing melodies from original compositions and lyrics that are between 200 and 400 years old, the vocals are inspired by the genre cante alentejano. “I want to show to the Canadian audience, and the world, this beautiful music genre presented in a modern way,” Marques says. “I’ve always had respect and admiration for traditional Portuguese music, and since I moved to Canada in 2013, this fascination grew even more. This record is about the longing to bridge these geographical and cultural gaps.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to leave multicultural Canadians asking when they will be able to visit homelands and families again, Marques offers the Portuguese community, music lovers, and those missing travel a way to stay connected to culture. He demonstrates firsthand how the arts provide ways for people to stay in touch with their roots, and for others to learn about different cultures. He understands that the need to support multicultural communities is more evident than ever.
Marques is a prodigious musician from Portugal who began playing drums at age 2 and was performing by TV by 5. His talent quickly garnered the attention of musical legends such as Donna Grantis (Prince’s former guitarist), Jeff Coffin (saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band), and Fado icon Carlos do Carmo. Watch Manjerico above, listen to A Ponte below, and find Marito Marques at his website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
