31Mar2026
25May2026
Causa Efeito returns in 2026 for its fourth edition, cementing its place as one of the most inspiring events at the cutting edge of jazz. Held at the Campolide Campus of NOVA University Lisbon, the festival was founded in 2023 as part of the University’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, curated by Pedro Costa, and quickly established itself as a space where academic research intersects with the most contemporary artistic practice, exploring new forms of improvisation—often on unlikely instruments.
Fala Mariam, Sofia Borges, Tracy Lisk, Steve Swell, and Wilbert de Joode are some of the names on the lineup for this edition, taking place on May 15 and 16 at the Fencing Hall and the Courtyard of the Campolide Campus of NOVA University Lisbon.
Four unamplified concerts in the Fencing Hall and four concerts in the Courtyard of the Almada Negreiros College, with free admission, make up the 2026 program, designed once again by Pedro Costa.
In the curator’s words:
“Thanks to the generosity and vision of Universidade Nova, we set out on a new edition of the Causa Efeito Festival in search of discovery. Discovery of new audiences, new musicians, new music—all aiming to be surprising while continuing a four-year tradition.
On the bill we have two distinguished musicians who haven’t visited us in a few years: Dutch double bassist Wilbert de Joode and trombonist Steve Swell. They’ll perform together as a duo, but also with others—Wilbert in a trio with Ziv Taubenfeld and Sun Mi Hong, while Swell presents yet another duo, this time with Californian drummer Tracy Lisk.
Another North American expatriate, Brad Jones, forms his first “national” trio with saxophonist John O’Gallagher and drummer João Pereira. From Norway come two notable musicians, violinist Nils Økland and pianist Sigbjørn Apeland. At our festival, they will play the Hardanger fiddle and harmonium, exploring the remarkable acoustics of the Fencing Hall at Colégio Almada Negreiros. In the same hall, we will have the great honor of welcoming the quartet Depois das Peças (from Sei Miguel, I might add), featuring Fala Mariam, Bruno Silva, Pedro Lourenço, and Miguel Abras.
From Canada, we welcome oud player (and guitarist) Gordon Grdina, whose music reflects modernity within the Persian tradition. The Berlin-based Portuguese percussionist Sofia Borges has invited Argentine saxophonist Ada Rave for another duet.
This year’s program reflects the use of a new venue where festival concerts will be held for the first time: the aforementioned, beautiful fencing hall. With a capacity limited to 60 seats, this hall—without a sound system—will showcase the original timbres of the instruments in a way we are no longer accustomed to. There will be four concerts in this hall.
The remaining four will take place in the school courtyard, in a relaxed atmosphere with free admission. Still fresh in our memory are the memorable concerts that took place there in the first year with the Move trio and also Luís Vicente’s trio with Tony Malaby.
This year, we wanted to offer truly intimate concerts (in the fencing hall) and concerts that foster a sense of community (in the courtyard). Once again, the program was tailored to each venue, and the small, entirely acoustic concerts in the fencing hall underscore the theme of Causa Efeito: free listening. More than ever, this is a showcase of the many facets that improvisation—whether closely related to jazz or not—can take on.”
31Mar2026
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