Bio
{ japanese } { castellano } { català } {short version on pdf}
Dedication, freedom, the enjoyment of Jazz language, the research of new forms of expression, the depth of feeling, simplicity, are the world of Ignasi Terraza Trio.
Their recorded works, “Let me tell you something”, “Jazz in the darkness”, “It’s coming” and their latest release: “In a sentimental groove”, as well as their constant presence on the European stage show-off the category of this exceptional Jazz band.
Influenced by Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly and Ahmad Jamal, and fed by the classic jazz tradition, the Ignasi Terraza Trio keep alive one of the most essential characteristics of the above mentioned style: swing. Their strong rhythm and sound, their creative capacity and respect for the Jazz tradition, lend their music a personal, elegant and fresh touch on a journey from swing to bebop, with incursions into the blues, producing moments of intensity and emotion.
The Ignasi Terraza Trio regularly perform all over Spain, in addition to taking part of the most prestigious festivals in Europe. They have played in Switzerland, Portugal and France, and more particularly at the International Jazz Festivals of Bayonne, Montreux, Century, Gaudence, Ramatuele and Paris.
PRESS SUMMARY OF THEIR LAST WORK
“IN A SENTIMENTAL GROOVE”
EL PAIS 30 March 2006
“.. es un jazz con mayúsculas y se incribe en la tradición de los grandes trios…el pianista catalán vuelve a contar con la complicidad del excelente contrabajista Pierre Boussaguet para convocar sus tres fantasmas jazzísticos : los standars afrocamericanos, las canciones populares catalanas y los temas personales, y realizar, sin ninguna duda, su disco más personal, y más atractivo. ”
” .. it is a pure & real jazz and fits in the big trio’s tradition… the Catalan pianist counts again with the complicity of the excellent counterbassist Pierre Boussaguet to summon his three jazzistic bogeys: the afro-american standards, the popular Catalan songs and the personal topics, to perform, without any doubt, his most personal, and more attractive disc. “
AVUI, suplemento de cultura 29 Marzo 2006
“entre los músicos de jazz que forman parte de la nueva escena no se puede negar que uno de los que ha filtrado mejor la lecciones de Tete Montoliu es Ignasi Terraza. La relación que mantuvieron los dos músicos no respondía a la convencional de maestro-discípulo. “No me dió ninguna clase, pero nos podíamos pasar el día en su casa escuchando discos” , explica Terraza.
…el alma jazzy que ha regido el trabajo creativo de estos dos excelentes músicos establece un especial nexo entre la estrecha afinidad por el blues y todos sus derivados y que define uno de los rasgos esenciales en la identidad musical de Tete Montoliu con la indisociable pasión por el swing que practica Ignasi Terraza
AVUI, supplement of culture On March 29, 2006
“between the musicians jazz who are a part of the new scene it is not possible to deny that one of that it has leaked better the lessons of tete Montoliu is Ignasi Terraza. The relation that the two musicians had, didn´t answer to the conventional one of teacher - disciple. ” He did not give me any class, but we could pass the day in his house listening to discs “,says Terraza.
… the jazzy soul that has governed the creative work of these two excellent musicians, establishes a special connection between the narrow affinity for the blues and all of its derivatives and that defines one of the essential features in the musical identity of tete Montoliu with the indisociable passion for the swing that Ignasi Terraza practises.”
EL TIEMPO 9 Mayo 2006
” El pianista catalán Ignasi Terraza ( Barcelona 1962) demuestra en este disco una sensibilidad extraordinaria para adaptar piezas tradicionales ( incluso el emblemático ” El Cant dels Ocells ” ) e inyectarle swing y hacerlos jazz. Pero también sabe componer e interpreptar como pocos el lenguaje universal que se entiende aquí, en Nueva Orleans y en Japón, donde también se distribuye el disco. Terraza cuenta con Pierre Boussaguet, bajo, y Jean Pierre Derouard, batería imprescindible.”
” The Catalan pianist Ignasi Terraza (Barcelona 1962) demonstrates on this disc an extraordinary sensibility to adapt traditional pieces (even the emblematic one “el Cant dels Ocells “) and to inject them with swing to finally turn them into jazz. But also it can compose and play as few can the universal language that is understood here, in New Orleans and in Japan, where also the disc is been distributed. Terraza is accompained By Pierre Boussaguet, bass, and Jean Pierre Derouard´s essential drums.”
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Ignasi Terraza
Pianist (Barcelona, 1962)
After his first public appearance in 1980, Ignasi Terraza (born in 1962) has played an important role in the Barcelona Jazz scene. His personal, swinging style has placed him amongst the most in demand accompanists in the City, allowing him to back up many of the American musicians visiting Spain, like Frank Wess, Jesse Davis, Gene “Mighty Flea” Conners, Teddy Edwards, Ralph Lalama, Lou Donaldson, Brad Leali or Donald Harrison as well as singers like Charmin Michelle, Randy Greer, Michelle McCain, Lavelle, Dee Daniels, Ann Hampton Callaway or Stacey Kent. Terraza has also been, since its inception, one of the key members of the Barcelona Jazz Orchestra.
But Terraza’s favorite setting is, indeed, his trio: regular partners include the likes of bassists Pierre Boussaguet, Darryl Hall or Horacio Fumero, and drummers Gregory Hutchinson, Bobby Durham, Jeff Hamilton, Alvin Queen, Jorge Rossy, Leon Parker or Jean-Pierre Derouard.
Influenced by Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly and Ahmad Jamal, and rooted in the classic jazz tradition, Terraza is featured in more than 15 CDs, four of them in a Trio format: Let me tell you something (1999), Jazz in the darkness (1999), It’s coming (2004), and In a sentimental Groove (2005) (which won the best jazz record of 2006 award given by the Spanish magazine Jaç).
During the last ten years Terraza has kept busy playing around Spain, as well as in Festivals and club dates in Switzerland, Portugal and France. Highlights include the Jazz Aux Remparts Festival in Bayonne, the Jazz in Marciac Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival, Jazz a Ramatuelle, etc. In 2006 The Ignasi Terraza Trio toured Asia for the first time, playing in China and The Philippines.
On May 21st, 2009, Ignasi Terraza became the winner of the 25th edition of The Great American Jazz Piano Competition, an extremely prestigious event held in Jacksonville, Florida, since 1983. This special award was won on previous editions by pianists like Marcus Roberts, Lynne Arriale or Kenny Drew Jr. The jury (Marcus Roberts, “Doctor John” and Na’im Talib Rashid) chose Ignasi amongst 46 other pianists because of “his personal musical view” and “his ability to transmit it”. Ignasi performed, in a trio format and to an audience of 650 people, two of his original compositions, Give Me Another and An Emotional Dance, as well as a very personal solo piano version of John Lewis’ classic Django.
{ Randy Greer } { Jean-Pierre Derouard } { Pierre Boussaguet } { Dimitri Skidanov } { Jules Bikoko } { Esteve Pi } { Toni Solà } { J. M. Farràs } { Susana Sheiman } { Oriol Romani } { Ramon Fossati } { Nono Fernández } { Darryl Hall } { Brad Leali } { Barcelona Jazz Orquesta }