Oscar Peñas, (Barcelona, Spain) is a crossover jazz guitarist and composer who features instruments uncommon in jazz such as the accordion and violin. Peñas, currently a USA permanent resident, likes to pay homage with his compositions to the American jazz masters, and other jazz traditions, in the attempt to musically represent his regard for the different styles and eras of the genre. Oscar's compositions embrace influences of Brazilian urban music and some hints of new Spanish folk music that work towards a personal jazz style. He successfully blends European melodies with modern tropical sounds that highlight these musical traditions in the spirit of musical experimentation and fusion. In his dedication to developing a fresh jazz idiom that pays homage to these traditions, Oscar Peñas enjoys collaboration and often works with American jazz artists who share his love for South American and Flamenco interpretations of jazz including such artists as Esperanza Spalding and Gil Goldstein. The result of these collaborations yields an emotionally communicative experience for audiences of any culture. Music of Departures and Returns is his fourth album second to be released in the USA in 2014. In each of its eight songs, Oscar liberally improvises, while still providing a cross-pollination of jazz with other musical genres. Tango is featured in the song titled “The Everyday Struggle (La Luchita)”; Brazilian Choro music is integrated in “Paquito's Choro” which is performed on clarinet by the great Paquito D' Rivera; “Paco” is a waltz with a Spanish flavor dedicated to iconoclastic flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia; “Etude n.1” is a song that has a Baroque introduction and then becomes an “even eights” tune. Two compositions of the repertoire are interpretations of pieces by other composers and arranged by Oscar. “Rabo de Nube” by Cuban singer/songwriter Silvio Rodriguez is sung by the multi-talented Esperanza Spalding while “Canço n. 6” by Catalan composer Frederic Mompou features Gil Goldstein on accordion.

http://oscarpenas.com/

Jazz as a Common Language Workshop

Thursday, April 23, 7:00 PM

Join an open rehearsal atmosphere as we explore composing, improvising, and interacting with other musicians in this evening workshop with guitarist Oscar Peñas. All levels of players are encouraged to bring their instruments and share in the music and the discussion and welcome to join the fun!
Register here