- Praza do Rei. 3.07.2009, 23:00.
- Free
Concertos. Santiago de la Muela Jazz Orchestra
Many of the characteristics of some of the best jazz artists can easily be found in Santiago de la Muela, along with all the skills and expertise which are necessary for a Spanish instrumentalist of the current times. Apart from his masterly ability to play the guitar and the intelligence of his compositions, Santiago de la Muela has the energy and the passion required to embark himself upon most ambitious projects, whether it is to set up a big band, to convey his know-how to young novel musicians or to defend the interests of jazz professionals, like when he headed the Madrid jazz association or when he participated in associations established with the aim of supporting jazz.
Born in the Canary Islands, he has a thorough knowledge of those which should be the main duties and abilities of a crossover musician in the national jazz context, including composing, making arrangements and performing, but also those related to managing, promoting, and of course selling albums.
The fact that he has been capable of establishing and maintaining a big band alive is very good news, as the financial, structural and managerial problems involved are many-fold. And it is particularly hard if the orchestra is intended to be well conducted, if a solid rhythmic section is to be maintained −with double bassist Christian Pérez and drummer “Sir Charles” González−, if you have in the band one of the very rare Spanish solo jazzwomen −pianist Marta Sánchez−, if you have brought together a bunch of young artists who manage to bring back to life the age-old spirit of traditional big bands, and if the live repertoire of the orchestra includes a well-balanced mix of jazz standards and original tunes −with songs like Samba Pepita, dedicated to the guitarist’s mother, or Fin de Trayecto, dedicated to one of his Republican relatives killed in combat in the 1936 Spanish civil war, both included in his record Líneas Paralelas. These appear to be more than sufficient reasons to understand why Santiago de la Muela Orchestra was so warmly welcomed in the national jazz circuit.
- Santiago de la Muela: Guitar, arrangements, composition and conduction
- Christian Pérez: Double bass
- Carlos “Sir Charles” González: Drums
- Marta Sánchez: Piano
- Juan Ramón Callejas: Alto and soprano saxophones
- Juan Luis Ramirez: Alto saxophone, clarinet
- Ramiro Obedman: Tenor saxophone, flute
- Alejandro Pérez: Tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
- Rafael Serrano: Baritone saxophone, flute
- Cheryl Walters: Trombone
- Luis Zenner: Trombone
- Antonio Tercero: Trombone
- Iker Aierbe: Bass trombone
- Jonathan Badichi: Trumpet, flugelhorne
- Raul Gil: Trumpet, flugelhorne
- Carlos Rossi: Trumpet, flugelhorne
- Antonio García: Trumpet, flugelhorne
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