João Barradas is one of the most renowned and widely acknowledged European accordionists, working simultaneously between classical music, jazz and improvised music.

He has won prestigious international contests such as the World Accordion Trophy – which he has won twice – the Coupe Mondale of Accordion, the International Castelfidardo Contest and the Okud Istra International Competition, amongst others.

João is very active in the classical and contemporary accordion as well as chamber music scenes, working closely with composers such as Luis Tinoco, Fabrizio Cassol or Dimitiris Andrikopoulos. He has premiered dozens of pieces written for him over the years and is one of the leading contemporary accordion figures of his generation.

Also an outstanding jazz accordion musician, João has recorded for the New York record label Inner Circle Music and collaborated with various renowned musicians, namely Greg Osby, Mark Turner, Aka Moon, Mike Stern, Gil Goldstein, Fabrizio Cassol, Mark Colenburg, Jacob Sacks, Miles Okasaki, Rufus Reid, Jerome Jennings, amongst many others.

In 2016, he recorded his first album as leader with Inner Circle Music. Directions was praised highly by the critics worldwide and named in Downbeat’s Best Albums Of The Year. João Barradas is currently touring with his new group featuring saxophonist Mark Turner, Simon Moullier on vibraphone, Luca Alemanno on double bass and Naíma Acuña on drums.