Oscar Peñas Group
The Return of Astronautus
© 2006 Fresh Sound Records (8427328422703)
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Second album of this quintet from Barcelona born in 2001. The sound of the band blends different sound colors, traditions, grooves and styles: the acoustic with the electric, a combination of grooves like chacarera or drum 'n' bass, and post-bop tradition
tracks
- 1 The Return of Astronauts
- 2 Super Nona
- 3 San Patricio
- 4 Hay Algo En Ti...
- 5 Epíleg
- 6 Nuevos Tiempos
- 7 Arres Närg
- 8 Medley of the Return
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Oscar Peñas, jazz guitarist from Barcelona, has been playing the guitar for more than 25 years. He started when he was 10.
In Barcelona he studied both classical and jazz guitar at the Taller de Músics and performed in amateur groups like Es-tres quintet or Tribute to Jobim. His teachers there were Vicenç Solsona, Sean Leavitt, Horacio Fumero, Mario and Jorge Rossy among others. He also was enrolled as a student in various International Jazz Seminars in Barcelona and Sienna where he studied with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Perico Sambeat, Paolo Fresu, Seamus Blake, Chris Cheek…
In 1997 he moved to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music where he graduated cum laude in 1999. During these years at Berklee he had the opportunity to study with Mick Goodrick, Jon Damian, Hal Crook, Luciana Souza or Ed Tomasi, among others. At Berklee he also met many musicians who later on became band mattes like Javier Vercher, Franco Pinna, Guim G. Ballasch, Gustavo Agatiello and many others.
In 2000 he came back to his hometown where he spent the next six
years performing as a leader and free-lance musician in different Spanish jazz venues and festivals (Barcelona Jazz Festival, Mas I Mas Jazz Festival, Jamboree, Cova del Drac, Jazz Cava de Terrassa, Sunset, Be-bop, Bilbaina Jazz Club...), and recording and teaching at his former school Taller de Músics.
During these Barcelona years he lead a band named Astronautus recording two CDs for the label Fresh Sound New Talent; the first one entitled “Astronautus” (2003) and the second “The Return of Astronautus” (2006).
Awarded with a scholarship he moved back to Boston in 2005 to earn his Masters at the New England Conservatory of Music where he graduated with honors in 2007. At NEC he had the privilege to study with legendary teachers Danilo Pérez, Charlie Banacos, Brad Shepik and Frank Carlberg, to name a few.
While he was studying at NEC he performed at the historic Jordan Hall and other small venues like Rutman’s Violins.
He is now based in Brooklyn, where he leads a new group with extraordinary talented musicians.
The music of "The Return of Astronautus" is firmly rooted in the post-bop mainstream, yet it sounds fresh and distinctive, possessing a quality of lightness coupled with considerable drive. It features original compositions by Peñas’ that blend jazz with many other different musical influences and traditions.
Some quotes about Peñas’ music:
"Peñas is not a technical guitar player, but more of a sound sculptor..."
Budd Kopman, Cadence.
"When he soloes, he is spare and to the point"
Marc Meyers, All About Jazz.