Hugo Alves began playing the trumpet at the age of seven in his home town of Lagos in Portugal. He career started in the 1990’s playing in many famous national and international jazz bands. As well as playing, he also produces jazz events and teaches at renowned music schools such as ESMAE in Oporto and ESML in Lisbon.

He has played with many great orchestras and big bands including the Matosinhos Jazz Orchestra, Jorge Pinto da Costa Orchestra, Hot Clube Portugal Big Band and the Claus Nymark Orchestra. He has worked with legendary musicians such as Peter King, Perico Sambeat, Kirk Lightsey, Sangoma Everett, Wayne Dockey, Michael Lauren, Bob Berg, Conrad Herwig, Ingrid Jensen, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Gary Valente, Bernardo Sassetti, Mário Laginha, Júlio Resende, Miguel Martins, Nuno Ferreira, Jorge Costa Pinto, and many others. One of his most cherished collaborations was a quintet with the New York pianist Antonio Ciacca.

Hugo lives in the Algarve, and founded the Algarve Jazz Orchestra in 2004. He has released several solo albums, and the most recent three, Taksi Trio in 2005, Given Soul in 2007 and Double Dose in 2010 were all awarded Best Album of the Year in Portugal. He plays Denis Wick mutes and mouthpieces including a gold-plated American Classics 3C on his trumpet.