Manuel António Lima Gomes Timas

Pé-de-Monte, São Filipe, Fogo Island, 1958

Instrumentalist (string), producer, composer

Based in the United States since 1986, Zé Timas works as an instrumentalist and has collaborated with various artists, both in recording studios and on stage. He accompanied Fantcha on tours across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, participated in recordings with Danny Carvalho, Pepe Bana, Vuca Pinheiro, Frank de Pina, Alino, Duducha, among others, as well as with artists outside the Cabo Verdean community. As a producer, he collaborated with Tony Azevedo on Lutchinha’s debut album, and also worked with Linkinand Calú d’Arquiteto on the album Alma e Vibrações. He lived in Florida, where he founded Zemanu Records with Manu Kat. He later returned to Massachusetts, where he currently lives.

Zé Timas originally traveled to the United States only for a vacation, but during that visit, he decided to make the country his permanent home. While in the United States, he played with several groups, such as Africa United, Show Band, Os Vulcânicos, Pilon, and La Tour, with which he recorded Crítica in1995. That same year, he became one of the founding members of the acoustic group Raiz, which frequently performed at official events and Cabo Verdean cultural evenings throughout New England.

Before moving to the United States, he lived in France for several years, arriving in 1977. He worked with Katchás and participated in the group Broda. Later, together with some members of that group, he formed the group Os Imigrantes, and with them he recorded an LP whose title track, Nha boti, was written by him. During his time in Paris, he participated in several recording projects, including the album Tragédia, Manuel Gomes’s first album. During this period, he also attended a music school called Institut Musical Pour La Pedagogie du Resultat Optimum (Impro).

As a composer, in addition to the songs recorded by his former band, Ze Timas has contributed to several musical collaborations on albums by Maria de Barros, Nancy Vieira, and his wife, Lena Timas. Zé Timas has been involved in music since his teenage years. In São Filipe, on Fogo Island, at age 16, he founded a group called Estrela Negra with friends.

Discography

• Silêncio, CD, independently released, Brockton, 2014.

Compositions

Feiticeira d’era antigo, Desdi qui mundo foi mundo (co-written with Vicente, Os Imigrantes); Câ chulo; Nha boti; Mi nada um ca tem (co-written with Djim Job, Kalú Monteiro, Ney Miranda, and Danny Carvalho); Xame cantá (co-written with Lutchinha); Peca sem dor (co-written with Djim Job); Nha regresso, Poder divino (co-written with Orlando “Rollaya”); Pesu d’nha dor; Silencio final; Hipocresia; Magia d’morna, Nem sempre (co-written with  Lena Timas and Manu Kat); Amanhã; Kalada; Bem ma mim; Sakuta.

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