João Almeida is a Portuguese trumpet player, improviser/composer and sound engineer based in Lisbon, Portugal. In recent years, he has collaborated and shared the stage with Nate Wooley, Peter Evans, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Brandon Lopez, Michael Formanek, Tomas Fujiwara, Mary Halvorson, Alexander Hawkins, Chet Doxas, John O’Gallagher, Akira Sakata, Giovanni Di Domenico, Tony Elieh, Patrick Guionnet, Norberto Lobo, João Lobo, João Pereira, Yaw Tembe, Gonçalo Almeida, Rodrigo Amado, Susana Santos Silva, Rodrigo Pinheiro, Hernâni Faustino, Albert Cirera, Ricardo Jacinto, Yedo Gibson, Vasco Furtado, Ricardo Martins and Pedro Melo Alves, among others.

His solo work, HOCUS, is focused on creating time-freezing noise layers, with impactful changes of scenery. Part of groups such as Peachfuzz, GARFO, Chão Maior and Lucifécit, he has played in festivals and venues such as Teatro S.Luiz, TBA, Capitólio, Galeria Zé dos Bois, CCB, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Culturgest Lisboa, Casa da Música, OUT.FEST, Festival Robalo Antena 2, Guimarães Jazz, Festa do Jazz, Cortona Jazz Festival, Area Sísmica, VinterJazz 2024, Klub Primi, Mayhem, Cave12, Klankhaven, Les Ateliers Claus, FRIM, St. Lambertus Kapelle, and has toured extensively through Europe and Japan.

As a sound engineer, he has worked at PENHA SCO, Sala Lisa, and Auditório do Liceu Camões, and recorded, mixed and mastered records for John Edwards, Audrey Chen, Henrik Munkeby Nørstebø, Phil Minton, Norberto Lobo and João Lobo.

João is also part of Robalo Association, Coração De Boi, Cara Podre and Facada Records, releasing music, organizing concerts, festivals and events.