João Caetano shows up in front of the steps of the Portuguese school carrying two enormous drums. From these props it’s obvious what my first question will be: “So why choose to play the drums?”
Growing up in Macau, João was exposed to a variety of musical influences including Portuguese music, Chinese orchestra and classical music, but thinking about why he decided on percussion, he remembers watching the lion dance as a child and believes this is what inspired his desire to be a drummer.
“Listening to the noise of the gongs, drums and firecrackers, from the lion dance, it was instinctive”, he observes.
Caetano started getting into drums and percussion while a student at Macau’s Portuguese school, setting up the school band/percussion group “Sepium” at the age of 16. He sees this experience as the reason for his thirst to become a worldwide musician.
Caetano became familiar with playing as part of a group, but he always knew he wanted to be a session musician. He explains this concept as being “a freelance musician who specializes in one or more instruments and who gets hired by a band or artist to work in the studio”.
Playing several instruments including violin and guitar, he assimilates all these approaches so that he has “a lot of vocabulary” when playing. However, he explains that as a session percussionist, his sound ultimately depends on what the artist who hires him wants, and what’s on the record.
“At the end of the day I’m a musician, so whatever I play it doesn’t matter. It’s music”, he concludes.
After graduating, Caetano decided to relocate to the UK, studying music at university and specializing in jazz guitar and drums. This is where he first met the drummer Pete Ray Biggin, one of his greatest influences and the person who would introduce him to several influential London musicians, one of whom was legendary singer, guitarist and frontman of the band Incognito, Jean Paul “Bluey” Maunick.
After playing in front of Bluey and “doing a gig here and there”, Caetano got a call a couple of weeks later asking if he wanted to become the band’s newest member. “If you don’t meet the right people at the right time, then you’re lost”, he says. “Some things are magical, just crazy”.
Caetano is the youngest person to join the acid jazz/funk band Incognito since it was founded in 1979. Arguably the most multi-cultural band in Britain (current and past members hailing from a remarkable list of 32 different countries), the group recently released Transatlantic RPM, their fourteenth studio album.
“The album sounds fresh and amazing and I’m really glad to be part of it”, Caetano enthuses. “It’s modern and still really musically challenging to play with a more commercial edge to it, which is great”.
For Caetano, it’s “a big dream come true”.
“It’s a major thing to be part of Incognito and to record an album and do a tour, working with different artists who want to collaborate”, he explains. “Bluey is also a big mentor – he cultivates you”.
As well as Incognito, Caetano has played alongside the likes of Jessie J, Dionne Bromfield and Leona Lewis, working as a session musician on their albums. Playing with Leona Lewis at London’s Hackney Empire, recording live for BBC Radio One was an “important moment” in his career.
Similarly, playing for BBC Radio London with Reel People (who are influenced heavily by Incognito), and playing at London’s legendary jazz venue, Ronnie Scott’s, with Incognito have been his top moments so far.
“The great thing about Incognito is they constantly push you to the next level. It’s a constant evolution”, he says. From the smile on his face, it’s clear to see that success for João is simply being able to do what comes instinctively to him.