João Almeida

João “Jaye” Almeida is a traditional piper and flute player from Lisbon, Portugal. Born in 1984, Jaye started his musical training in 2000 learning classical guitar, electric guitar and bass guitar. Between 2007 and 2009 Jaye co-founded and ran an experimental arts and music collective in Lisbon, organising music festivals and events. In 2009 joined the Portuguese Bagpipe Society studying traditional Portuguese piping. In 2011 migrated to Sydney, Australia, and there joined the Sydney Slow Session and various other Irish sessions. Between 2016 and 2017 hosted the Gaelic Club trad session, and was a founding member of Sydney bands Celtic Tones, The Last Aurochs, Louzco Fouzco and Aljamía. Currently Jaye co-hosts a traditional Irish music session every Sunday at the Doss House with co-founder Stephen Powell. Jaye plays bagpipes by Sons da Música (gaita Galega/transmontana), Jorge Lira (gaita Galega), Bill Hart (Scottish smallpipes) and Olle Geris (cornemuse du centre), and simple system flutes by Jil Léhart.