Biography
Born in October 1975 to a musically inclined household in Mozambique, Deodato Siquir grew up in Maputo and developed his skills on a makeshift kit assembled from discarded bins and scavenged parts. By fifteen he was already appearing alongside professional ensembles and leading his own outfit, Jasde. Between 1991 and 2000 he worked steadily as a supporting player alongside Mateus Vilanculos as well as the groups Zamoc Stars and Sungura Thwsa. Drawn to the zouk and local popular sounds circulating in Mozambique while also absorbing jazz influences, he began writing material and exploring his voice. He formed Trio Friends and MozAfro—later renamed Banda Azul—to present original pieces that fused jazz with contemporary street styles. In 1999 he took part in the Caprice Records anthology Music from Mozambique. The next year he helped organize and record Mozambique Relief, a collaboration between Finnish and Mozambican musicians that raised money and attention for survivors of the catastrophic floods. Siquir moved to Sweden in 2001, where the extensive network of contacts he had built enabled him to establish himself rapidly as a sought-after sideman in jazz and world-music circles. His first project as leader, the 2007 album Balanço, showcased his drumming, singing, and writing; the release attracted widespread notice across the international jazz and world-music landscape and reached World Music Europe’s Top Ten.
Albums
