Mário João Laginha dos Santos, born on April 25, 1960, in Lisbon, Portugal, is a pianist and composer known for his contributions to jazz. He began playing the piano at age five and developed an interest in jazz after watching Keith Jarrett perform on television at 17. His career took off when he started collaborating regularly with singer Maria João, resulting in multiple albums including Quinteto Maria João (1983) and Cem Caminhos (1985). In 1987, he formed the Mário Laginha Trio. He several albums such as Mumadji (2001) and Canções e Fugas (2007), the latter earning him the Prémio Carlos Paredes in 2007. Throughout his career, Laginha performed at numerous international festivals, including the Montreux Jazz Festival.
