1985
My Birth
Elcides Carlos was born on July 23, 1985, in Maputo Province, Mozambique. He grew up in the suburbs of Maputo City, specifically in the neighborhood of Chamanculo “D.” He is a jazz guitarist, educator, composer, and author of the book The Mind of a Great Guitarist.
Music was always a part of his family life. His late father was a music enthusiast and a vinyl record collector. Elcides fondly recalls special days during his childhood when the family would gather to listen to these records. Through his father’s record player, he was exposed to a variety of music from around the world, including James Brown, Martinho da Vila, Manu Dibango, Steve Kekana, and Fany Mpfumo.
1997
The Radio Station
Outside of those special listening moments, his exposure to music came mainly from radio programs. By the age of 12, Elcides had developed a habit of tuning in to a local radio station every day after school, during lunch. This station regularly played songs from various jazz artists. On Sundays, he was particularly drawn to the program “Easy Jazz,” hosted by DJ Izidine Faquirá. His fascination with jazz was hard to explain; it was likely the genre’s harmonic beauty, intricate rhythms, and the freedom of improvisation that captivated him. The way the instruments conversed with each other left him wanting to hear more and more. It was through these radio programs that his love for jazz guitar was born.
2000
At Around 15
when his family finally got their first television, a new dimension of musical appreciation opened up for Elcides. Now, he could visually experience the music he was hearing. It was during this time that he discovered his older brother played guitar and was seeking a scholarship to study jazz performance. His brother knew exactly when and where jazz concerts would air on TV. It was common to see him watching these concerts with his guitar in hand, trying to play along as if he were a part of the band. Witnessing this was surreal, fun, and intriguing.
Whenever his brother was not home, Elcides would sneak into his room, take the guitar, and try to replicate the sounds he heard on TV. This continued until he was 16, when he accidentally broke a string on his brother’s guitar. After being discovered, his brother gave him his first formal guitar lesson.
When his brother left to study abroad, Elcides relied on borrowed instruments, particularly a Yamaha classical guitar lent by his cousin Henrique Seúla. At the age of 18, he finally received his own guitar from his brother — a Cort Larry Coryell series — marking a turning point in his commitment to music
2004-2005
Guitar lessons
In 2004, Elcides met Milton Chissano, who offered free guitar lessons to young people. Through this, he met Terêncio Tovela, with whom he formed a serious jazz study partnership. He was introduced to the music of Charlie Parker, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, George Benson, Pat Martino, Lee Ritenour, and Biréli Lagrène.
Around 2004/2005, the late bassist Filipe Nataniel Fumo (Filipinho) heard him play and invited him to jam sessions, where he later met drummer Cremildo Chitará and joined the band Just Jazz. These experiences led to collaborations with the Malhangalene Jazz Quartet, the Yanga Project, and the UEM Youth Band under the artistic direction of Jimmy Dludlu.
2022
A Dream
At 22, Elcides began performing under his own name, which inspired him to compose original music. This dream materialized during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in his debut album Sense of Presence, released on October 27, 2022.
Since then, he has performed in several major concerts in Mozambique and internationally, including performances in Durban, Denmark, the Vinter Jazz Festival, and the Copenhagen Jazz Festival.
2024
Jazz in Communities
Beyond performance, Elcides is deeply engaged in cultural outreach. Through his “Jazz in Communities” project, launched in April 2024, he brings jazz to communities, schools, and social institutions.
He holds a degree in Physics from Eduardo Mondlane University. He taught Physics and Statistics for 12 years at UGC Technical School and, since 2010, has been a guitar instructor at the School of Communication and Arts (ECA) of Eduardo Mondlane University.