Carlos Bica is a Portuguese jazz bassist, composer, and bandleader. Born on July 11, 1958 in Lisbon, Portugal, he studied at the Academia de Amadores de Musica and the National Conservatory. In 1982, he moved to Würzburg, Germany, on a DAAD scholarship, and earned his music diploma as an orchestral musician from the Hochschule für Musik in 1985. He gained international recognition through a long-standing collaboration with singer Maria João, touring extensively. In 1994, he relocated to Berlin, Germany, and became a prominent figure in the city's jazz scene. He performed at major jazz festivals worldwide and collaborated with musicians including Ray Anderson, Kenny Wheeler, Aki Takase, John Zorn, Lee Konitz, and Frank Möbus. His album Azul (1996) was named "Jazz Album of the Year" in Portugal, and in 1998, he was voted the Portuguese jazz musician of the year. He also received the Carlos Paredes Prize in 2011 for his album Matéria-Prima (2010).
