Undercurrent Trio + Gorka Benitez – Spain Tour 2024 'The art of the Tenor'
30 October El Rubicon - Santander
31 October Sunset - Girona
1 November Jimmy Glass - Valencia
2 November Jazzon Aretoa - Bilbao
3 November Meidinerz - Gijon
Line up:
Gorka Benitez (Euskadi) tenor saxophone
Iman Spaargaren (NL) tenor saxophone
Guillermo Celano (ARG) guitar
Marcos Baggiani (IT) drums
For more than 20 years, Gorka Benitez, originally from the Vizcaya region of the Basque Country, has been one of the most important musicians on the creative music scene in Barcelona. Standing somewhere between contemporary jazz, pop-rock and many other genres, he has forged his own personal and non-transferable style, becoming an extraordinary storyteller, a master of melody and one of the most original voices in European jazz. As a solo artist, he has released ten albums, in addition to participating in around 60 others as a sideman, collaborating with artists as diverse as Omara Portuondo, Chicuelo, Paco Ibáñez, Randy Brecker, Martirio and Emilio Solla.
Iman Spaargaren plays various wind instruments. He was selected as a Young VIP in 2012, which gave him the opportunity to perform with his own group at renowned venues throughout the Netherlands.
"Melody and lyricism are outstanding features of saxophonist and composer Iman Spaargaren. With clear expositions, he ventures along paths that lead to adventure" (Jan Jasper Tamboer, het Parool).
Guillermo Celano, winner of the North Sea Jazz Composition Prize "Celano peppers his cohesive compositions with stylistic quirks, creating intensely melodic and refreshing structures for improvisation, a rare gift" (Andy Hamilton, The Wire).
Guillermo has worked with, among others, Michael Moore, Joachim Badenhorst, Clemens van der Feen, Ellery Eskelin, Chris Cheek, Ingrid Laubrock, Gerard Kleijn, Joost Kesselaar, Robin Verheyen, Josef Dumoulin and Gorka Benitez.
Marcos Baggiani is a versatile drummer with solid roots in improvised music. Over the years he has collaborated with, among others, Sylvie Courvoisier, David Kweksilber, John Edwards, Ernst Reijseger, Han Bennink, Achim Kaufmann.
Reviews on the album "Everything Seems Different" by Undercurrent Orchestra on Zennez Records:
"That's a whole set of up and down moods expressed through individual and group improvisations, gliding impressionistically between thoughtful arrangements, loose affinities and unrestricted free music, all suspended over an eclectic set of rhythms. The Orchestra, emphatically backed by the drummer Marcos Baggiani, chooses and mixes samba rhythms, railways, Saharan caravans and horses. An artistic interpretation of the Covid-19 pandemic: the brave Undercurrent Orchestra was undoubtedly one of the first to address this very difficult topic, they have done a job worthy of praise" (Len Weinreich, London Jazz News)
"This very varied album maintains attention, curiosity and pleasure from the first to the last note" (Jean Buzelin, CultureJazz.fr)
"With the colorful instrumentation of Undercurrent Orchestra, Iman Spaargaren delivers an evocative album" (Bernard Lefevre, Jazzhalo)
"Every composition on the album has something that touches the heart" (Sjoerd van Aelst, Jazzflits).
Reviews about the album previous "High Tide Low Tide" on Flea Boy Records:
"Exceptionally beautiful album" (Marie-Claire Melzer, Jazzism Magazine)
"Musical extremes define this interesting and captivating album" (Johan Bakker, Nederlands Dagblad)
"With High Tide Low Tide, the Undercurrent Trio knows how to outline a musical sign of the times in a unique way" (Robin Arends, Jazzradar.nl)
Music: https://imanspaargaren.
Video: https://www.youtube.
The press about Undercurrent Trio's album 'High Tide Low Tide':
"Exceptionally beautiful album" (Marie-Claire Melzer, Jazzism Magazine)
"Musical extremes define this interesting, compelling album" (Johan Bakker, Nederlands Dagblad)
"With High Tide Low Tide, the Undercurrent Trio knows how to sketch a musical sign of the times in a unique way" (Robin Arends, Jazzradar.nl)
A musical sequel has been released under the name of Undercurrent Orchestra with Gerard Kleijn, Joost Buis (trombone) and Annie Tangberg (cello). The press about Undercurrent Orchestra's album 'Everything Seems Different':
"That’s a whole bunch of see-sawing moods expressed through ensemble, solo and group improv, impressionistically slipping between thoughtful arrangements, loose affiliations and uninhibited free music, all suspended over an eclectic set of rhythms. The Orchestra, enthusiastically underlined by drummer Marcos Baggiani, picks and mixes beats from samba, railways, Saharan caravans and horseback.
An artistic interpretation of the Covid-19 pandemic: the courageous Undercurrent Orchestra were certainly among the first to tackle this toughest of subjects. And, what’s more, have done a commendable job (Len Weinreich, London Jazz News)
"Ce disque très varié maintient l’attention, la curiosité et le plaisir de la première à la dernière note" (Jean Buzelin, CultureJazz.fr)
"With the colorful instrumentation of Undercurrent Orchestra, Iman Spaargaren delivers an evocative album" (Bernard Lefevre, Jazzhalo)
"Every composition on the album has something that touches the heart" (Sjoerd van Aelst, Jazzflits)
Iman Spaargaren plays different reeds. He played with different ensembles troughout Europe and the USA and released many recordings under his own name. He was Young VIP in 2012 which gave him the opportunity to perform with his own group at renowned venues all through The Netherlands. He was granted a composition assignment for quintet to celebrate 50 years of BIMhuis in 2022.
"Melody and lyricism are strong features of saxophonist and composer Iman Spaargaren. With clear expositions he wanders on paths leading to adventure" (Jan Jasper Tamboer, het Parool).
North Sea Jazz Composition Prize winner Guillermo Celano plays guitar:
”Celano spices his cohesive compositions with stylistic quirks, creating intensely melodic and refreshing frameworks for improvisation – a rare gift” (Andy Hamilton, The Wire)
Guillermo has worked with o.a. Michael Moore, Joachim Badenhorst, Clemens van der Feen, Ellery Eskelin, Chris Cheek, Ingrid Laubrock, Gerard Kleijn, Joost Kesselaar, Robin Verheyen, Josef Dumoulin and Gorka Benitez.
Marcos Baggiani is a versatile drummer with firm roots in improvised music. Over the years he has been working with o.a. Sylvie Courvoisier, David Kweksilber, John Edwards, Ernst Reijseger, Han Bennink, Achim Kaufmann.
Listen to the new album by Undercurrent Orchestra Everything Seems Different on Spotify. Or check High Tide Low Tide from Undercurrent Trio on Spotify
