Música para amansar fieras

This album is the result of a deep and revealing journey. This album not only marks a milestone in my career as a leader, but it also represents a continuous search for my own musical identity. Every note, every melody, embodies the experiences and emotions I’ve lived through over the past five years since I began playing the saxophone. Crafted with utmost care, this album strives to express my most authentic feelings, imprinting the deepest parts of myself into every composition, each of which holds profound and personal meaning.

Throughout this process, I’ve been surrounded by an exceptional group of friends and musicians, who have been essential in bringing my music to life. The musical and personal connection I share with them has been crucial in allowing each piece to find its true essence.

From the very beginning, I felt that each one of the munderstood the vision in my mind perfectly, contributing their talent and sensitivity to let themusic flow naturally. This album is a mirror of my most heartfelt emotions and personal growth. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have in creating it, and that it resonates deeply with everyone who listens. I hope each listener finds in these melodies a space for connection and introspection.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

—Javier Rojo

Tracklist

Album details

Press reviews

"Young artists should be supported in a special way. And if, in addition, they are exceptionally talented and have great prospects for the future - it is the reviewer's duty. Such a figure is undoubtedly the saxophonist and composer (also, although less frequently, clarinetist) Javier Sánchez Rojo, born in 1999 in Guadalajara, Spain. Even though he is only twenty-five years old, Rojo already has something to be proud of. After five years of studying in Barcelona, ​​he changed the climate and moved to Switzerland, not far from his homeland, to study at a prestigious university (with university status) - Jazzcampus in Basel. He learned his craft from mentors such as the American saxophonist Mark Turner and the Argentine pianist Guillermo Klein. He performed on one stage or in the studio alongside the Beninese guitarist Gilles Lionel Loueke, the American pianist Aaron Parks and the flamenco pianist Chaco Domínguez from Cadiz. He could also be seen at jazz festivals in Canada, Austria, but also - of course Spain and Switzerland.

For several years he was an accompanist and session musician. During this time, however, he perfected his own craft and, above all, composed. In order to start your own project at the right time. And that moment happened. In the summer of 2024, in a studio belonging to Jazzcampus, he recorded material for the debut album of his sextet. The premiere of the album "Música para amansar fieras" was announced on January 10 this year, and the company behind it is the Barcelona label Fresh Sound, which has been operating since the early 1990s, or rather its sublabel New Talent, specializing, as the name suggests, in promotion beginner but talented jazz musicians. Because not only Javier himself is a "new talent", but also the artists accompanying him (mostly students of the same Swiss university): trumpeter Álvoro Ocón, Belgian guitarist Eliott Knuets, French pianist Noé Sécula, double bassist Joan Codina and an American drummer The genius of Lee Wesley."

—Sebastian Chosinski (January, 2025)
https://esensja.pl/
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"The Spanish saxophonist Javier Rojo is a frequent guest at important European stages and festivals. He appeared not only alongside stars such as Lionel Loueke, Ghano Dominguez and Aaron Parks, but also toured as the leader of his own band. Now he makes his debut with the album "Musica Para Amansar Fieras", recorded for the prestigious, independent label Fresh Sound New Talent. The session seems to be an obvious reference to the classics of modern jazz, the influence of the young saxophonist's masters (he studied with Mark Turner and Guillermo Klein), avant-garde sounds and even elements of classical music and flamenco. Everything is conveyed with grace and ideas through the live, rhythm filled energy and dynamics of his sextet (Javier Rojo - tenor saxophone, Alvoro Ocón - trumpet, Eliott Knuets - guitar, Noó Sócula - piano, Joan Codina - double bass, Genius Wesley - drums and guest flutist Fernando Brox).

Every note, every melody, embodies the experiences and emotions that I have experienced over the last five years since I started playing the saxophone, is on this album - declares Javier Rojo. Created with the utmost care, the album seeks to express my most authentic feelings, imprinting the deepest parts of me in each composition, each of which has a deep meaning and personality to me.” Driven by a deep passion for their craft, commitment to perfection and the desire to explore unknown musical territories, the debut "Musica Para Amansar Fieras" is an excellent showcase of the young European jazz scene."

—Dionizy Piątkowski (January, 2025)
https://jazz.pl/
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"Let me introduce you to a saxophonist who’s quietly making waves in Europe’s jazz scene: Javier Rojo. Originally from Guadalajara, Spain, and now based in Basel, he’s bringing a thoughtful perspective to contemporary jazz that’s well worth exploring. Rojo’s journey has been shaped by some impressive connections, studying with Mark Turner and Guillermo Klein, sharing the stage with Lionel Loueke and Chano Dominguez, and performing at major venues across Europe. But what really stands out is how he’s shaped those experiences into a sound that’s unmistakably his own.

His debut album, MÚSICA PARA AMANSAR FIERAS, reflects the connection Rojo and his bandmates have built through extensive touring in Spain. Their seemingly effortless interplay speaks to the time they’ve spent making music together. Rojo’s saxophone playing has a warmth that immediately draws you in. While some tenor players lean toward an aggressive tone, Rojo takes a different path, think Stan Getz or Lester Young.

‘Black, White, and Colours’ is a smooth, laid-back unison piece where the band clicks everything into place. Trumpeter Alvaro Ocón leads the melody with effortless ease, and it’s a joy to hear. Elliot Knuets brings a wonderful tone to his guitar, resonating like crazy, as if the strings are tuned to vibrate more freely, humming with warmth and rich overtones. Rojo’s tenor sax carries a West Coast cool vibe that’s especially appealing.

Rojo revealed that he wrote ‘Lonely Night’ during an emotionally intense period, using composition as a way to process his feelings. Many of those moments found him alone at the piano, often late at night. You can hear echoes of Bill Evans in Noé Sécula’s energetic piano solo, with its thoughtful voice-leading and rich inner harmonies. Rojo’s tenor sax steps into a slightly more assertive role, yet it retains its effortlessly smooth character. His playing recalls the lyrical finesse of alto legends like Paul Desmond or Gene Quill. Rojo has truly mastered the “cool tenor” aesthetic, shaping the horn’s natural growl and bark into something crystalline and refined, almost as delicate and airy as an alto.

Rojo dedicated ‘Musica Para Amansar Fieras’ to his young cousins, toddlers whose restless energy quieted only to his piano playing. The piece begins like a lullaby, with Rojo’s tenor sax entering a delicate exchange with the guitar, their phrases flowing like old friends sharing secrets. Beneath them, the rhythm section weaves a soft, supportive tapestry. It’s easy to imagine this gentle interplay creating a cocoon of calm.

All of Rojo’s compositions carry a deeply personal touch. ‘Riba’ honors his mother’s village, Riba de Saelices, a place he considers home. Ocón’s trumpet shines with smooth, melodic grace, while guest Fernando Brox’s flute adds a birdlike lightness, lifting the piece into a cooler, more ethereal realm.

For fans of melodic, reflective modern jazz, this debut marks Javier Rojo as an artist worth following. His story may be just beginning, but he’s already speaking with a distinct and confident voice. What really draws me in is the way they listen to each other. You know how sometimes jazz groups can sound like everyone’s just waiting for their solo? Not here. These guys are having real musical conversations."

—Tim Larsen (January 9, 2025)
https://jazzviews.net/
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"The music of Javier Rojo transforms us in a little jazz club, where musician feels free to express their musical ideas. The music is very lyricial and in the same time very intense with deep roots in hard bop. The music never gets boring, because Javier put a lot of his feelings and emotions in every song. The musicians are all excellent with big ears and a strong sense for musical timing in the wright moment. It was a great pleasure for me to listen to Javier Rojo new CD Music para Amansar Fieras [...]"

—Alex Schicke (January 12, 2025)
https://www.jazzreporter.com/