Barcelona Holiday

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VINNIE SPERRAZZA gained his first professional experiences as drummer in the Utica, NY area, before moving to New Jersey to study at William Paterson University. While at William Paterson, he met and began working with the great jazz pianist James Williams, starting a musical relationship that lasted until Mr. Williams passing in July 2004.

Moving to Brooklyn in 2002, he began involving himself in the boroughs thriving creative music scene, and is currently leading two projects. The Vinnie Sperrazza-Matt Blostein Band features original music and draws on a diverse array of musical styles and experiences. Their first album, "Ursa Minor", was released in January 2008 on the Ann Arbor-based Envoi Recordings label. Since October 2008, they have travelled to Toronto, Pittsburgh, and central New York state, giving concerts and club appearances, as well performing workshops and clinics. In February and March 2009, they embarked on a weekly residency at Brooklyn's I-Beam Music, including shows featuring special guests Brad Shepik and Tony Malaby. A tour of the midwest is planned for the fall of 2009.

In April 2009, Fresh Sound Records released the first album by the Vinnie Sperrazza Trio, "Peak Inn", featuring pianist Jacob Sacks and bassist Dave Ambrosio in a program of free improvisation, original compositions, and standards. Additionally, a trio album, featuring Sperrazza, Sacks, and bassist Masa Kamaguchi was recorded in the summer of 2008 in Barcelona. Produced by Jordi Pujol for Fresh Sound Records and consisting solely of jazz classics and standards, the record is in the works for a late 2009 release.
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JACOB SACKS is one of the most creative pianists on the NYC jazz scene today. His strong individual voice has been heard in a variety of settings ranging from the mainstream jazz traditions of the Mingus Big Band and Orchestra to the compositional free jazz style of the Mat Maneri ensemble to the vamp based fusion of Dave Binney's Balance.

Originally from Michigan, Jacob moved to NYC in 1995 to study with Garry Dial at the Manhattan School Of Music. After graduating in 1998, he focused his energies on both performing and teaching music. In the performing arena, Jacob became a member of many different ensembles, recorded several albums, and has toured the United States, Europe, and Canada several times.

Along the way, Jacob has had the honor and privilege to perform with musicians such as Clark Terry, Paul Motian, Joe Maneri, Charles Gayle, Eddie Henderson, Christian McBride, Brian Blade, Tony Malaby, Chris Potter, Mark Turner, Ben Monder, Adam Rogers, Kenny Wollesen, Gene Jackson, and Matt Wilson.

Also after graduating, Jacob decided to devote a good amount of his time to bringing music to students of all ages. While currently teaching 30 or so students in private practice, Jacob has also joined with Bob Bowen, Brian Drye, Mike McGinnis, and Khabu Doug Young to form a partnership, the Creative Music Workshop, a cooperative school based upon helping students of all ages and levels transcend the boundaries of style to find their own voices through the creation of original works, both written and spontaneously conceived, in different sized ensembles.

Jacob currently resides in Brooklyn, where he is working on several recording projects and on a book for beginning pianists.
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MASA KAMAGUCHI (Masatoshi) Wakkanai City, Japan. Born in 1966 in the northernmost city in Hokkaido. In 1990, moved to Boston to attend Berklee and proceeded to study with and drummer Joe Hunt. In 1994 Masa moved to New York City where he is much in demand by many groups, performing with such luminaries as, pianist Roberta Piket, the modern acoustic quartet NAM, Ben Monder, Billy Mintz, Chris Cheek, and Tony Malaby.

Recording credits include recent albums with Frank Kimbrough and Paul Motian, Ron Horton, Jimmy Weinstein, Bert Seager, Matt Renzi,John O'gallgher and Roberta Piket (Fresh Sound). An acutely intuitive player, Masa brings an individual sound and fresh perspective to the acoustic bass. His rich warm tone and modern style define his individuality. Kamaguchi is a versatile player, at home with a truly wide range of musical influences, that translate into his brilliant concept.
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"Barcelona sigue siendo una ciudad atractiva para los músicos de jazz. Por alguna razón que quizá tenga que ver con su cosmopolitanismo u otras causas, se sienten a gusto allí. Una razón evidentes es que la tarjeta de visita del productor Jordi Pujol pesa mucho en el ámbito del jazz internacional. El sello que fundó y dirige, Fresh Sound, es un referente muy importante fuera de nuestras fronteras. Cada proyecto que presenta cuenta con el añadido especial de dar a conocer a músicos emergentes o ya consagrados. Siempre, por encima de todo, cuidando la calidad. En cualquier caso la labor que realiza es impagable.

En lo que nos ocupa estamos ante un trío neoyorkino, con el batería Vinnie Sperrazza, el pianista Jacob Sacks y el contrabajista Masa Kamaguchi, presentando su segundo trabajo para la casa (el anterior con diferente batería). De la trayectoria del primero, que lidera el grupo, apenas tenemos referencias, no así de los segundos, que han formado parte de grupos de músicos ya consagrados. Sacks ha colaborado con Tony Malaby, Ben Monder, Matt Wilson, Chris Potter, Mat Maneri o Paul Motian, entre otros. Mientras que a Kamaguchi se le puede oir en trabajos de Paul Motian, Frank Kimbrought o Ron Horton. Por cierto, que está afincado en Barcelona y acompaña a grandes del jazz nacional como, últimamente, el pianista Albert Sanz.

Los ocho temas del disco componen una colección de standards muy bien trabajados por el trío. Aunque cada una de las piezas parte de elementos clásicos, cuentan con un desarrollo especial. A pesar de tratarse de piezas recurrentes en muchos repertorios, han sabido proporcionarle un barniz eminentemente moderno a cada canción. En ningún momento el disco pierde frescura. Las aportaciones de Jacob Sacks son precisas, con un pianismo firme, que levanta el ánimo. Vinnie Sperrazza demuestra una presencia decisiva, tanto en los comienzos como en los finales de los temas y el contrabajista es el contrapunto perfecto para este triángulo. A destacar piezas como “I Love You Porgy”, que empieza con un lirismo y una calma reposada y termina con un caudal desbordante de energía; la composición de Ornette Coleman, “When Hill the blues Leave?”, está interpretada con un gran respeto a la original, pero aportando varios elementos improvisatorios que le otorgan una factura realmente bella a la pieza; “Ugly Beauty” de Thelonius Monk es una adaptación más modernizada, donde las notas asimétricas de Monk son sustituidas por una ejecución más suave y lírica, que por momentos nos recuerdan ciertos detalles evansianos y en el que resalta un gran solo de Kamaguchi. Como si de un fin de fiesta se tratara, el disco acaba con la chispeante “I Got Rhythm”, en donde todo el protagonismo lo adquiere el trío, con diversos cambios de ritmo sometidos a gran velocidad, que suponen un gran colofón para este convincente trabajo elaborado con gusto, con una gran selección de los temas y una producción de altura.

Carlos Lara (10 Octubre, 2010)
https://www.tomajazz.com