AEQUILIBRIUM is João Martinho’s debut album

Portuguese trombonist João Martinho has released his debut album, AEQUILIBRIUM, a deeply personal recording that combines original repertoire, transcriptions, and cornerstone works of the trombone literature. Produced by RP Recordings, the album features collaborations with pianist Afonso Rocha and the Essentia Trombone Quartet.

The recording includes two world premieres: an original work for trombone and piano by António Pinho Vargas and AEQUILIBRIUM, a composition by Carlos Martinho that lends its name to the album and serves as a personal family tribute. The program also includes works by Robert Schumann and Giacomo Puccini, as well as Vincent Persichetti’s Parable XVIII, a solo work that explores introspection and solitude.

Throughout the album, the trombone serves as the central voice, guiding listeners through a musical landscape of tension, reflection, and balance. The varied repertoire highlights both the expressive and virtuosic possibilities of the instrument.

Born in Guimarães, Portugal, João Martinho has built an international career as a performer and educator. He studied at the Conservatório de Música Calouste Gulbenkian de Braga and the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espetáculo before completing a Master’s degree at the Berlin University of the Arts with Prof. Stefan Schulz. A prizewinner in numerous national and international competitions, he has served as Principal Trombone of the Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra since 2017. He regularly performs with the Berlin Philharmonic and has been Assistant Professor of Trombone at the Berlin University of the Arts since 2020.

AEQUILIBRIUM is available now on major digital streaming platforms, like spotify and youtube.