Jazzpaña Live Gerardo Núñez & Ulf Wakenius

• 1 Calima 11:46
• 2 Alma De Mujer 08:48
• 3 Para Chick 06:23
• 4 Siboney 06:18
• 5 Blues for Pablo 03:17
• 6 El Vito 12:17
• 7 Calima (Encore) 14:08
• Total Runtime 01:02:57

Info for Jazzpaña Live

“Music for people with open ears and open minds. Far removed from a predefined style. Without any fear of mixing genres.” In 1992, this was the understanding of jazz that producer Siggi Loch based the launch of his ACT adventure on. The label’s very first recording, Jazzpaña, was to become a milestone and synonym for ACT’s philosophy, and became a double Grammy nominee in the process.

Jazzpaña brought the stars of the “Nuevo Flamenco” from Spain together with US jazz greats such as Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine and Al Di Meola, backed by the sound of the WDR Big Band. The arrangements came from Vince Mendoza, though a little- known artist at the time, he is now one of the most versatile and prolific composer-arranger-conductors of the last two decades, a multi-Grammy Award winner who has written arrangements for everyone from Joni Mitchell, Sting, Elvis Costello and Bjork to Joe Zawinul, John Scofield and Charlie Haden. 12-time Grammy winner and star producer Arif Mardin, who throughout the course of his career worked with greats such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Norah Jones, completed the set with a suite of his own.

Jazzpaña sought to connect the unexpected, in this case Flamenco and Jazz, and one album became two in 2000 with a smaller, but no less prominent line-up. Jazzpaña II was led by Gerardo Núñez and Chano Domínguez and peppered with soloists like Jorge Pardo, Perico Sambeat and again Michael Brecker. Once again, it was a huge success: “Grandiose Musik” proclaimed Germany’s esteemed magazine Der Spiegel.

Now, 15 years on from Jazzpaña II, and over two decades since the original idea was conceived, ACT presents Jazzpaña live. This latest chapter in the Jazzpaña story was recorded live from both the Berlin Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal and WDR 3 Jazzfest in Dortmund. For this concert, once again both Jazz and Flamenco combine through Spanish Guitarist Gerardo Núñez, considered the heir apparent to the great Paco de Lucía, and Swedish guitar virtuoso Ulf Wakenius, however this time a third element, Cuba, is added courtesy of Cuban pianist Ramón Valle.

His trio explores the close relationship between Hispanic music and the music of Andalusia, with the results particularly impressive on “Siboney”, an homage to the greatest of all Cuban composers, Ernesto Lecuona.

Gerardo Núñez, flamenco guitar
Ulf Wakenius, jazz guitar
Chano Domínguez, piano
Ramón Valle, piano
Omar Rodriguez Calvo, bass
Liber Torriente, drums
Christof Lauer, saxophone
Cepillo, percussion

Recorded live in concert at the Berlin Philharmonie (KMS), October 21, 2014
Recorded and mixed by Klaus Scheuermann
Mastered by Christian Schmitt
Recording producer: Christoph Terbuyken
Album mastering by Klaus Scheuermann

Gerardo Núñez
born in Jerez de la Frontera (Andalucia, Spain), is one of the outstanding pioneers of the Flamenco Nuevo. Flamenco Nuevo artists stand out due to their fusion of different musical genres and styles. In Núñez’ case this led to a remarkable number of collaborations with artists of the most diverse genres. Núñez collaborated with tenor star Plácido Domingo, pop-idol Julio Iglesias, harp player Andreas Vollenweider or rock band Mecano. Another example for his musical openness was his unique quartet with trumpet player Enrico Rava, accordion virtuoso Richard Galliano and bassist Eberhard Weber. Nuñez also made a name for himself as the composer of several popular Spanish songs.

Gerardo Núñez had his international breakthrough with the album "Flamencos de Nueva York" in 1989. Famous Flamenco-critic Alvarez Caballero commented on Núñez playing: „Rarely ever the Flamenco guitar has shone more due to powerful prowess.” Guitar Player magazine added: „An outstanding virtuoso – but his musical taste and masterly fusion of styles are even more remarkable.”

His ACT 2000 debut "Jazzpaña II" (ACT 9284-2) brought Gerardo Nuñez another great success and introduced contemporary Spanish jazz to a major audience throughout Europe. Together with the likes of Spanish pianist Chano Dominguez, saxophonist Perico Sambe at, drummer and percussionist Toni Di Geraldo, Franco-Spanish bassist Renaud Garcia-Fons and the Gitano singer Esperanza Fernandez, Gerardo went to the Sonoland Studio in Madrid. Further invited musicians were guitarist Fareed Haque, saxophinist Michael Brecker and arranger Colin Towns. "Jazzpaña II" turned out to be a well-received album from both listeners and media and reached #1 of the German Jazz Charts.

With the 2003 ACT album "Le nueva escuela de la guitarra flamenca – The New School Of Flamenco Guitar" (ACT 9413-2) Núñez presented a fascinating project based on his collaboration with five young Flamenco guitarists.

The 2004 album "Andando el tiempo" (ACT 9426-2) shows the state of modern flamenco guitar today: 11 tracks take one on a journey through the infinite distances that lie between flamenco and jazz, a journey for which only Gerardo Núñez can act as guide.

“Travesía” (ACT 9534-2) is Gerardo Núñez most recent record and a further proof of his border-crossing musical way of thinking. Pop, funk, jazz and Latin freshen Gerardo Núñez’s flamenco, which he combines with extraordinary technique and great passion. On this recording, his wife, the famous dancer Carmen Cortéz (for whom he has written some songs), and his daughter Isabel, join in with their hands and feet by clapping and tapping. Also featured are prestigious jazz musicians including saxophonist Perico Sambeat and pianist Albert Sanz, as well as the legendary percussionists “Cepillo”, who co-produced the album. Their common venture is “la travesía”, the crossing; whereas the Africans sail across the Mediterranean Sea to their new home, these musicians are crossing borders in music.

Booklet for Jazzpaña Live