Raízes e Ramos
The Roots and Branches of Portuguese Fado

Inscribed in 2011 on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Fado is best known as the urban popular song of Lisbon, Portugal. But, like any art form, it has varied influences and it continues to evolve. Raízes e Ramos (Roots and Branches) was formed in Toronto in 2011 with the desire to bring this rich genre of music to a wider audience.  Join vocalist, Jessica Lloyd, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Louis Simão, guitarist Pedro Joel, and cellist Sybil Shannahan as they take you on a journey through the ages and landscapes that together weave the musical threads of Fado. With the combined forces of these four eclectic but complimentary musicians, you will experience the traditional sounds of the famed Lisbon Fado houses before you are whisked away to the future of Fado on the shores of Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola and... Canada.
 
As a classically trained vocalist, Jessica Lloyd’s genre-crossing vocals never fail to impress.  She is a member of the Canadian Opera Company Chorus and has appeared with various opera companies and symphony orchestras all the while maintaining a career in the pop and world music scene singing in big bands, rock bands, a capella vocal groups and Spanish and Portuguese-languaged ensembles.
 
Louis Simão is a multi-instrumentalist who has worked with numerous distinguished artists and ensembles including Michael Occhipinti, Luis Mario Ochoa, Guinga, and The Shaw Festival’s “Maria Severa”. Simão has opened for Cesária Évora and Celso Machado, toured Portugal and performed at the Festival de Printemps in Azzemour, Morocco as the guest of the Portuguese Consulate and the Instituto Camões. Louis' website
 
Pedro Joel is a versatile guitarist and bassist from Aveiro, Portugal whose formal studies were completed at the Escola de Jazz do Porto (The Jazz School of Porto).  In Canada, he has worked with Portuguese artists Tony Gouveia and Sonia Tavares, as well Brazilian talents such as Flavia Nascimento, Aline Morales and Alan Hetherington's Mistura Fina.
 
Compelling young Canadian cellist Sybil Shanahan has been a member of the genre diverse chamber group Ensemble Vivant since 2010 and can also be heard performing with the Ontario Philharmonic, the Toronto Concert Orchestra and NYCO Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her classical engagements, Sybil arranges pop music for her group Beaux Strings, and has recorded on albums and film scores for a wide variety of artists. Sybil's website