Ricardo worked in Malawi, Africa for eight years before returning to Europe and settling in Spain, in Barcelona in 1999. The years in Malawi brought him into contact with many other musicians and again widened his repertoire to incorporate African rhythms as well as Asian. He worked especially with Aaron Sangala and the late, great Tione Mwera. A creative collaboration with a sitar player, Bimal Lohd, resulted in several excellent concerts. With Aaron Sangala and Bashir Sacranie Ricardo was a founding member of the group Tia Kalulu, mentioned in The Rough Guide to Music in Africa. Both solo and in cooperation with others, Ricardo frequently performed at the French Cultural centre, The British Council and the two beautiful concert halls in the University of Malawi. A very important figure at this time was Prof Mitch Strumpf, the Professor of Music at the University of Malawi, who encouraged Ricardo and stretched his boundaries. He had played with Black Pasely and the Lucky Stars, high points!
Returning to Europe in 1999, Ricardo settled in Barcelona and continues to travel mainly between Spain, France and Scotland to perform. He has also performed in Canada, Asia, the United States, France, Spain, the UK and Ireland in recent years. Ricardo has performed in the Edinburgh Festival for fourteen years running and toured to Montreal and Vancouver in 2005 2006, 2007. 2006 saw him performing on four continents, travelling most of the year. From Cambodia to Canada, Brighton to Bangkok, Montreal, Paris, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Washington, several Scottish dates and Cape Town, South Africa.
Ricardo played a residency in New Jersey in May 2006 at The State Theatre, New Brunswick and he expanded his links with the USA during this year, playing six shows in San Francisco in September and a series of private evenings in Washington in November, 2006.