11.01. – Happy Birthday !!! Son of Spanish immigrants that left behind fascism in the 50’s to start a new life in Australian democracy. He started playing the spanish guitar at the age of ten in a musical environment based on traditional Spanish music and the Australian’s 70’s rock and pop scene.
When Franco died and democracy was reinstalled in Spain the family returned to Barcelona. In time he became an active player in the Barcelona Music scene successfully achieving with his first band being selected as finalist at the yearly held festival of the “Spanish Ministerio de Asuntos Sociales” in Ibiza, 1989, where promising new jazz artists are awarded.
In 1989 he was accepted by Berklee College of Music, Boston, U.S.A, graduating in Commercial Arranging in 1992 under the supervision of Grammy award winner Robert Freedman. In the following years his career as a guitarist and composer went in up rise.
Hired in 1993 buy the Bogota’s (Colombia) World Trade Centre recording studio, Sincrosonido, as composer and arranger for their latin american production services. This was the place where latin music finally came soaring into his music. He then moved back to Spain and just kept on going strong touring France for four years on the Europe Connection Projects culminating in a series of commissions by The Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts and The National Arts Lottery Council to write a 50 minute suite called the Immigrant and the commission to write the book on Arranging and Composition, “El Arreglo, Un Puzzle de Expresion musical,” by the Spanish Society of Authors.
His experience has been sought in the educational field as lecturer of the Universidad Internacional Menedez Pelayo, as part time teacher at Paul Mc Cartney’s Liverpool Institute for the Performings Arts and as lecturer at the L’ Aula de Musica Moderna i Jazz of The Barcelona Liceo Conservatory.
In 2003 he decides to settle down in Barcelona and for his own pleasure compose and produce his own music in the manner to portray to others his needs and passions for life.
Four solo CD’s in six years, EL DESEO, ESPACIO, JUEGO DE ALMAS, SPANISH BREEZE, national tours playing at top theatres and venues along side top Spanish performers as JORDI BONELL (Spanish Guitar), Pepe Motos (flamenco percussionist ex Sarah Bara Tomatito, Paco de Lucia)and international artists backing him up as Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report) Dave Garfield (George Benson) Walfredo Reyes ( Santana) Bruce Sugar (Ringo Star)
His work has become a reflection of contemporary catalan culture, a Mediterranean culture.
Spanish Catalan government agencies continue funding his work and support the following European 2010 tour through our company called Barcelona Music.
Awards
Nominee Spanish Ministerio de Cultura Jazz Awards 1989 UK National Arts Lottery Commission: The Immigrant SGAE Commission for the text book: El Arreglo Un Puzzle de Expresión Musical
Gear
Hermanos Conde Spanish Guitar Paul Reed Smith 1999 Stratocaster Vox AD50VT.
More Stories
CD review: Wayne Escoffery – Alone – 2024: Full album video, CD cover
A half of fun and rhythm, anecdotes and melodies, closed with two encores – Javier Girotto and Vince Abbracciante: Video, Photos
Live review: Summer night, weaving dreams & sound paintings with Charles Lloyd and his music: Full concert video, Photos