Rafael's new group guitar lessons class ongoing since January, at the beautiful ABC Treehouse.

Every Thursdays the class gets together to improve its guitar and musical skills and to embrace a more musical life and mind. Besides guitar technique, the course aims for a general understanding of essential music concepts such as arranging, songwriting and analysis. The group will perform regularly in public venues and develop extended paralell activities such open podiums. 

Application is mandatory.
More info and pricing
Thursdays: 19.30 - 21.30h

Spui, Amsterdam

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Portuguese visual artist Isolino Vaz would complete 90 years in upcoming April. Celebrating this date, Rafael was commissioned a piece cycle inspired in his life and work. The commission was made by cellist Isabel Vaz, Isolino's daughter. The piece will be premièred  in an event homaging the artist which include a lecture and exhibition of some of his most relevant pieces.

More about Isolino Vaz

Date: March 5 - 11h
Location: Escola Secundária Marquês de Pombal (Lisbon)
With: Isabel Vaz (cello), Rafael Fraga (portuguese guitar)

20 Canções para Zeca Afonso, featuring Rafael's arrangements of José Afonso's songs premiered in Barcelona a new format, welcoming singer Sofia Vitória and percussionist Sebastien Scheriff to the ensemble. This reduced formation comes up as an alternative to the full ensemble with string quartet and saxophone, creating a even more intimate atmosphere. The portuguese guitar as also been added, bringing it's unique timbre and folk roots.
On it's fifth anniversary, the project now will bring José Afonso's music and words to the beautiful L'Auditori, in the heart of Barcelona. This special concert will also include some of Rafael's latest arrangements.

Date: March 3, 21h
Location: L'auditori (Barcelona, Spain)
With: Sofia Vitória and João David Almeida (vocals), João Paulo Esteves da Silva (piano), Rafael Fraga (guitar and portuguese guitar), Augusto Macedo (bass) and Sebastian Scheriff (percussions).

More about the 20 Canções para Zeca Afonso project here. 

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Rafael is now full time guitarist for the Portuguese/Dutch band Quatro Ventos. Continuing more than 15 years of dedication to Portuguese music and culture, the group is now preparing the release of the next studio project, again under the Silvox label. 
This new album features several new works by singer/guitarist Emanuel Pessanha, most of them dedicated to Portuguese legends and myths. It also includes brandly new arrangements of some traditional fados/songs, to which Rafael has largely contributed as an arranger and guitarist in studio.

More: www.quatroventos.nl 

Italian mandolin and guitar duo Mauro Squillante and Sante Tursi commissioned Rafael a new piece for their upcoming album dedicated to the music of Southern cultures. 

To be released under the Digressione Contemplattiva label, the album will include works from Egberto Gismonti, Dimitri Nicolau and Victor Kioulaphide, among others. Rafael's contribution is now taking shape, as a piece that embraces his biggest influences - from folk music to Brazilian, in a hopefully challenging and innovative work for the mandolin/guitar repertoire. 

Sonhei que íamos num barco
convés despido,
mas sem vista de horizonte.
Apenas bruma,
branca de palavras.

Então, apeadeiro breve,
terra firme
- era uma outra ilha,
continente.

À partida da nave, saltei.
Na sua face, que zarpava,
apenas surpresa
- não aceno.

Havia perto um velho
e uma parede negra recoberta de nomes.
- Homens ilustres, disse.

Os meus não estavam lá.
Peguei no giz e escrevi:
F.
Assim, não era apenas eu,
mas todos nós.

Outra nave.
- Destino?
Desconhecido.
Nada a temer,
- entrei.
Outra ilha viria
do cais que ficava.

Ao longe,
uma linha ténue de horizonte,
Era a bruma, tranquila,
vítrea, solene:
- a bruma das palavras
que desarmava.

New video illustrating "Traz outro amigo também", live recording of my project "20 Canções para Zeca Afonso". Centro Cultural de Belém, april 25th 2008.