Francesco Valente is an Italian musician and ethnomusicologist. He graduated in Literature from the University of Milan (2000) and in Music from the Lisbon College of Music (Escola Superior de Música de Lisboa, 2011). In 2013, he completed a Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCSH). He also worked as a member of the Center for Research on Carnival Music of Pernambuco, based in the Music Department of the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), under the guidance of Prof. Carlos Sandroni. In 2025, he earned a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCSH), with a dissertation titled Frevo: Percursos, Práticas e Patrimonialização, supervised by Prof. Salwa El-Shawan Castelo Branco.
Since 1996, he has attended numerous courses and workshops in electric bass, double bass, and composition, including studies at the National School of Arts (ENA) in Havana, Cuba; the Barreiro Jazz School (2003, with Afonso Pais); and workshops with John Taylor, Mike Mainieri, Marc Miralta, Carlos Bica, Carlos Barretto, David Binney, and Martin Sued. Between 2008 and 2011, he pursued a degree in Jazz (Bass) at the Lisbon College of Music (ESML), studying with Nelson Cascais, Bernardo Moreira, Bruno Santos, André Fernandes, João Pedro Moreira, Gonçalo Marques, Lars Arens, among others.
Francesco has collaborated and performed with a wide range of artists, including Al Gazarra, Aline Frazão, André Cabaço, António Zambujo, Brahima Galissa, Ciganos d’Ouro, Cool Hipnoise, Cuca Roseta, Daniel Casares, David Murray, Dazkarieh, Dino D’Santiago, Diogo Picão, Elodie Bouny, Eneida Marta, Fogue d’Mar, Fred Martins, Groove 4tet, JP Simões, Jazzanova, João Pedro Pais, La Chiva Gantiva, Hugo Trindade, Jon Luz, Kastrup, Kika Santos & Looples, Kimi Djabaté, Kutla Khan, La Macchina Volante, Laura Lopes, Luís Vicente, Luísa Sobral, Luiz Gabriel Lopes, Lura, Mahesh Vinayakram, Maria João, Marcos Suzano, Manu Chao, Maria Alice, Nena, Gustavito, Tiago Nogueira (Os Quatro e Meia), Mario Tronco, Martin Sued, Mike Mainieri, Mimmo Epifani, Né Ladeiras, Negro Aguirre, Oori Shalev, Orchestra Piazza Vittorio, Paulo Flores, Pedro Luís, Phil Mendrix, Pilani Bubu, Pino Pecorelli, Ponto de Equilíbrio, Quiné Telles, Rão Kyao, Rafael Martini, Raimundo Amador, Rajasthan Roots, Ricardo Pinto, Salvador Sobral, Sara Correia, Sara Tavares, Selma Uamusse, Tatanka, Terra Livre, Tiago Nacarato, Trio Ventana, Timbila Muzimba, Vitorino, Voginha, Zé Barbosa, Yamandu Costa, Beatriz Villar, among others.
He has performed at major international Jazz and World Music festivals, including Montreux Jazz Festival, Sfinx Festival, Exit Festival, Boom Festival, Rock in Rio, Fusion Festival, and more. He is currently a member of Cuca Roseta, Ayom, Coladera, Cordel, João Pires & Os Polvos, Orquestra Todos, Home Ensemble, Chibanga Groove, Susana Travassos, Maze, Suzie and the Boys, Pandeiro in Jazz, Terrakota, Tora Tora Big Band, and leads his own project, the MoFrancesco Quintetto.
Since April 2022, he has also been the Artistic Director of Rádio Olisipo.
Francesco Valente 