On December 2nd 2023 I was received the Artist of the Year 2023 by the Portuguese RTP/Festa do Jazz Award. I was not able to attend the ceremony in person but my dear friend Inês Barreiros represented me at Centro Cultural de Belém in Lisboa.

Here is my speech:

“It is a great honor and a nice surprise for me to receive this award today. The life of a jazz musician is not easy, especially in a world that increasingly devalues music that is not commercial or easily categorized. As a woman musician, I work hard to create and imagine new realities and contexts for myself and for the work of musicians of underrepresented genres to be normalized and valued. The jazz scene in Portugal was very different when I left for the United States. It wasn’t easy to leave behind the comfort, friends and family. I salute, celebrate and respect all musicians who continue to fight to keep this music alive in a country where opportunities are limited. I salute the persistence, the resistance, the endless hours of unpaid work to keep schools, clubs, festivals, publishing houses, publications and radio stations alive and active.

I thank the Jazz Festival for supporting me throughout all these years. I thank the jury for listening to me and valuing me. I thank my family: André Matos, Lourenço, my mother and my sister Joana for their infinite support. It’s been 5 years since my father José Luís Serpa died today and my life wouldn’t be what it is today without your infinite support in this adventure. I dedicate this recognition to him, knowing that he would be very proud. Thank you very much.”