Tello Morgado
Tello's main desire to become a percussionist was inspired by his uncle Joaozinho Morgado who is an internationally respected master percussionist. Growing up as a young boy between Angola and Portugal, he was constantly surrounded by the indigenous music Merengue, Semba, Rebita, Zouk and Brazilian rythms. Along with his exposure to jazz, Afro Cuban Latin, Funk and Rythm and blues, rock and pop and old school hip-hop, it wasn't long before Tello decided that the path for him to follow needed to be rooted in music.
As is such with any serious journey, the first step is education. For Tello, this was the School of Samba of Villa Isabelle in Brazil where he attended samba percussion workshops directed by Martinho Da Villa, the great composer/singer/songwriter of Brazilian Popular Music. This period also provided Tello with the opportunity to experience the flavoured musical styles of Forro, Funk Carioca, Maracatu, Baiao and Bossa nova. This provided the ideal environment in which to cement his own unique yet culturally loyal style. It was long after before Tello felt it was time to expand his educational horizons yet again.
Next stop... London where Tello attended workshops at the accredited Drums and Percussion Institute (Drum Tec) as well as popular music, music technology and sound engineering. Akin to his valuable experience in Brazil, Tello had the opportunity to further his conceptual theory of the music and apply his knowledge on the unforgiving London club and party scene and soon after he was being asked for by some of the top club and event promoters in the UK's capital city and abroad including Sternberg‐Clarke, Prelude Entertainment, Quintessential Events, Vibe (Dubai), Vibrations Music, Sound Artist management and many others
Performances & Collaborations
As Tello's calibre of performance has grown, he has felt compelled to evolve his creative expression into co-production. He has recently completed works on his own studio where he continues to co-produce and collaborates with everyone from the up and coming artist as well as respected heavyweights from a wide variety of genres.
In addition to the many clubs and festivals Tello has performed at, he has also been requested to play at private events such as Mariah Carey (Birthday), Timbaland, Shaggy, Vivienne Westwood, British Royal Family, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Stella Mcartney, Saudi Arabian Royal Family (The Ritz).
During his career, Tello has had the opportunity to share the stage with the likes of Radio Tarifa, Ojos De Brujo (Spain), Groove Armada, Jocelyn Brown, Gabriel, Leona Lewis, Blue as well as many others.
Tello thrives on collaborating and performing with artists from many musical backgrounds such as Afro Cuban Latin Music to Middle Eastern, Brazilian, African and European, with music styles from Pop Music, jazz, fusion, electronic, house, nu‐jazz, R'n'B, Soul, funk, classical and world.
Here is just a sample of some the artists he has had the pleasure of working with:
Kad Achouri (UK/France)
Nick Van Gelder (Jamiroquai)
Ray Gaskins (Roy Ayers)
Simon Bartholomew (Brand New Heavies)
Ahmed Ghannoun (Middle‐Eastern Artist, Dubai)
DJ/Producer Benny Bennasi (Italy)
Eve Mendez (Uk/Brazil)
Bruno E (Brazil)
Jo Ngala (Cameroon)
Derito Tavares (Angola)
Joca Moreno (Angolan DJ/producer)
Jonathan Espinoza (Hed KandiProducer, Spain)
Patricia Marx (Brazil)
Joaozinho Morgado (Angola)
Lee John (Imagination)
DegoMcFarlane (4hero, Producer/DJ)
Silhouette Brown, Chris Jerome (Courtney Pine)
Aronas, Mark De Clive‐Lowe,
Leroy Burges,
2000black,
Bugz‐in‐the‐attic,
Agent K,
Robert Mitchell,
Kaidi Tatham, Noel
McCoy, Maxi Jazz (Faithless)
David Jordan
Toni Laff (X‐Factor finalist)
Leroy Burgess
Jocelyn Brown
Vanessa Freeman (Real People)
Vula (Basement Jaxx)
Soundtrack credit for Carnival documentary (Movie)
Tello has performed and residencies at the following clubs:
Boujis
Amika
Pangea
Turnmills
Ministry of Sound
Studio Val Bonne
Cafe De Paris
Dolce
China White
Aura Mayfair Club
Luxx Club
Circus
British Luxury Club
Cocoon
Momo’s
Vinopolis
Also performing in the Middle East
(Jordan, Dubai and Marrakech)
Marbella (Puerto Buenos & Puento Romano Hotel & Resort)
DJ/Percussion set at Pasha Lounge
In addition to his club performances...
Tello has also performed at many Festivals as well as appearing on TV and Radio:
Glastonbury Festival North Sea Jazz Festival Reading Festival Womad (various locations) Banlieues Bleues (France) Pirineos Sur (Spain) Abu Dhabi International Jazz Festival South Port Weekender Festival Isle of White music Festival Art Rock (France) MIDEM International Music Festival (Cannes) Sandblast (Sahrawi Cultural Charity Festival) Kalabash Angola (Cultural évent) Musicas do Mundo (Portugal) Numerous regional TV appearances with various artists at FLY Global Music Culture Direct TV Portobello Nu‐Jazz Festival (documentary) International Cultural Market Fair (Kensington Hall) Tabernacle (Nu‐Jazz Festival) BBC Radio 1 Live (Gilles Peterson and others) BBC London Live MTV Base MBC Middle Eastern Broadcasting Co TPA International Flash (Portuguese/Angolan) TPA (Hora Quente) Caras Magazine (Interview) Newspaper and Radio Interview (Angola) Kensington Town Hall International Fair
Vienne Jazz Festival 2010
Tello Morgado's incredible talent and impressive list of accomplishments as an artist is matched only by his refreshing humility and contagious joy for life. Whether he is working one of the top clubs in the world, an intimate private gathering or is helping out a friend who needs some quality percussion laid down for a their track, he gives it his all and does so with a smile on his face. His passion for music in all of its forms can't be contained and he is never happier then when he is sharing that passion with others.