Miracielos (Digipack)

After the success of his previous records as a leader, Iñaki Sandoval now presents his new album: Miracielos.

Miracielos is a step forward in Iñaki Sandovals creative evolution. An idealistic and introspective look, rich in textures and dialogue within the trio. The rhythm section "ows naturally, with large doses of virtuosity, but always serving the beauty of music itself.

The album makes sense in its entirety, as a suite, with harmonies and rhythms that are repeated in di$erent contexts along it, bringing the trio together and creating a unique identity. All the music is original, consisting of seven main songs, each of which is preceded by a prelude in diferent instrumentations: solo, duo and trio. It is inevitable, at times, to be reminded of Bach and Ravel, but also Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett.


Tracklisting:
01. Prelude #1 0:44
02. Miracielos 5:48
03. Prelude #2 1:16
04. No Excuses 6:21
05. Prelude #3 1:49
06. Ya no quiero más ná 8:16
07. Prelude #4 1:57
08. Keep it Fresh 4:21
09. Prelude #5 3:09
10. Mr. Frank Martin 7:11
11. Prelude #6 0:24
12. Revolution is Coming 5:08
13. Prelude #7 1:34
14. Eternitat 7:49
15. Epilogue 3:40

Total time: 59:29 min.

All compositions by Iñaki Sandoval.

Personnel:
Iñaki Sandoval (piano), Eddie Gomez (double bass), Billy Hart (drums).
Recorded at Estudios Laietana, Barcelona, on November 9, 2009

Engineered & mixed by Jordi Vidal
Produced by Iñaki Sandoval
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Iñaki Sandoval is one of the leading jazz pianists of the Spanish music scene. After the success of his first two records as leader on AYVA Music: Sausolito (2005) and Usaquen (2008), he now presents this exceptional set, Miracielos (2011) on his own label, Bebyne Records, featuring Eddie Gómez on double bass and Billy Hart on drums.

Having graduated from Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA) and the University of Nevada in Las Vegas (Las Vegas, USA), Iñaki Sandoval in fact began studying music at the age of 8 years, in his hometown. A grant from the Government of Navarra allowed him to move to Barcelona to complete his studies in classical piano at the Liceu Conservatory, and to also begin his training in jazz music at LAULA of Modern Music. Subsequently, thanks to another scholarship, in this case from AIE and Berklee, he travels to the United States, where he completes his Bachelors and Masters degree. He has had as teachers pianists like Joanne Brackeen, Stefan Karlsson, Dave Frank, Ray Santisi, Paul Schmeling, Francesc Burrull, Iñaki Salvador and Stanislav Pochekin, among others.

He currently resides in Barcelona, where he combines his artistic activity with teaching. He is director of the Jazz Department at the Liceu Conservatory since 2003, where he is a professor of piano and improvisation.

His brilliant career as a pianist, in solo performances or with his stable trio, featuring Horacio Fumero on bass and David Xirgu on drums, has taken him to perform concerts and master classes in Spain, Europe and America. He also works with musicians such as Eddie Gomez, Billy Hart, Bob Mintzer, Marvin Stamm, Tom Warrington, Rudy Aikels, Stefan Karlsson, Sizao Machado, Greg Badolato, Walt Weiskopf, Peer Wyboris, Joan Albert Amargós, David Mengual, Jordi Bonell, Victor de Diego, Jon Robles, Llibert Fortuny, etc.

Iñaki Sandoval is a Steinway artist.


Iñaki Sandoval combines two essential features for a jazz pianist: a awless and transparent technique and an exquisite sensitivity.

-Miquel Jurado, EL PAÍS


Iñaki Sandovals jazz is sophisticated and exquisite, elegant and serene. His music is like a creation of Haute Couture.

-Pere Pons, JAÇ Magazine


Iñaki Sandoval is one of the top Spanish jazzmen. Good taste and risk show up from the first note.

-Miguel Ángel Queralt, JAÇ Magazine


He is a brilliant composer, with an imaginative and elegant playing, full of swing. Iñaki Sandoval is one of the strongest jazz pianists of the country.

-Antonio Pàmies, El FINGIDOR Magazine (Granada University)


SAUSOLITO and USAQUEN put together the best moments of Spanish jazz of the last years. Iñaki Sandovals phrasing on the piano is delicate, confident and full of magic.

-Marcelo Espiñeira, ARG EXPRESS Magazine


"Tres maravillosos discos en ocho años avalan la magnifica trayectoria del pianista navarro Iñaki Sandoval que parece haber echado el resto con este Miracielos (Bebyne) donde ha internacionalizado sus partenaires, dos musicos de categoría y experiencia contrastada, Eddie Gomez al contrabajo y Billy Hart a la batería, casi nada.

La grabación hecha en el año 2009 esta estructurada en forma de suite compuesta por siete pequeños preludios y un epilogo entre los que aparecen intercalados los siete temas fuertes del cd. Toda la música ha salido de las manos de Iñaki Sandoval, otro punto a favor del pianista.

Todo en este disco suena a reposado y repensado, nada es pretencioso ni apresurado, la frase que aparece firmada por Juan Ramón Jiménez en el interior del álbum es la premisa de las sesiones No corras, ve despacio, que adonde tienes que ir es a ti solo.

Asi es este Miracielos un gran viaje interior manejado por Iñaki Sandoval que no abandona sus buenas maneras ya demostradas en las anteriores grabaciones del navarro. Desde luego contar con dos figuras históricas del jazz en la rítmica ayuda y mucho al resultado obtenido, aunque tambien podía haber supuesto un lastre, pero no es el caso, Sandoval no se amedrenta y sale muy airoso de la confrontación musical con estos dos genios.

Conviene, como ejercicio, rescatar las anteriores grabaciones de Iñaki Sandoval, Sausolito y Usaquén antes de disfrutar de la sensibilidad y arte que emanan de esta gran grabación que estoy seguro ocupara un lugar preponderante en el listado de los buenos discos de este año 2011. Fantástico debut para el sello Bebyne Records, creado por el propio pianista para dar salida al arte de compañeros como el pianista sueco Stefan Karlsson o a su propia obra en esta su tercera referencia."

I. Ortega -Distritojazz.es
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Iñaki Sandoval is a Barcelona-based pianist, composer and educator. Beautiful, affecting and constantly rewarding, Miracielos is his third album as a leader and establishes him as a superb writer and player.

Sandoval is backed by the experienced Eddie Gomez on bass and Billy Hart on drums. Both are players of great sensitivity and style, and their contributions are central to the success of an album that alternates between the short "Preludes" and longer compositions. The preludes vary between calm, assured, ballads and tougher, more urgent, pieces, and move seamlessly into the following longer compositions. "Prelude #1" is a full-toned pizzicato bass solo that sets up the piano introduction to the graceful "Miracielos," while "Prelude #3" is a spacious and gentle solo from Sandoval which slips into the late-night groove of "Ya No Quiero Más Ná."

"Prelude #5" is a trio performance which, at only 24 seconds in length, swiftly establishes the sense of sadness and regret that characterizes the exquisitely beautiful "Revolution Is Coming." Although Hart's militaristic drum roll gives the tune an underlying tension and power, "Revolution Is Coming" is not a tune in praise of such an event, even if it heralds its arrival. Sandoval and Gomez both play with delicacy, an air of quiet sorrow driving both players to create an exceptionally emotive piece of music. This same feeling of melancholy pervades "Eternitat" and "Epilogue," drawing the album to a downbeat but beautiful close.

While the finest tunes on Miracielos are its gentle and reflective ones, Sandoval can also shift up a few gears to deliver a groove-laden stomper like "Keep It Fresh" (preceded by Hart's tense, hard-hitting, drum outing, "Prelude #4") or the hard bop "Mr. Frank Martin." The presence of these upbeat and feel-good numbers emphasizes Sandoval's awareness of dynamics and also serves to highlight the beauty of the slower and more delicate tunes.

Filled with music of the finest quality, from a trio of talented and sympathetic players, Miracielos is a gem. The album has been recognized in Spain with a nomination for Jaç Magazine's Best National Album of 2012; the rest of the world has the pleasure of discovery to come.

Bruce Lindsay -All About Jazz (January 20, 2012)
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