Primary Instrument: Band/ensemble/orchestra
This big band with a European flavor, conducted by the unnerving Ramon Escalé and made up of stars of the Spanish jazz scene, presents a new musical project based on original numbers with Mediterranean roots and traditional tunes from Cuban culture with modern jazz arrangements. As if we were at the New York Palladium, the Barcelona Big Latin Band makes the audience vibrate with its contagious tumbao.
With a career stretching back more than ten years, three albums (two of them live ones) and more than a hundred concerts at the biggest festivals in Spain, the Barcelona Big Latin Band was one of the country’s leading exponents of Latin jazz. Made up of some of this country’s big names in jazz and Latin jazz and led by the pianist and com- poser Ramon Escalé, the group has always been prepared to take on new challenges: in 2007 with Omara Portuondo, the great lady of Afro-Cuban music, in a series of concerts, and in 2008 embarking on a special production – a true Latin All Stars group – with a repertoire inspired by the legendary Catalan musician Xavier Cugat, who was a very important figure in music with Afro-Cuban roots.
The Barcelona Big Latin Band presents a new and promising project: big band versions of popular songs of one of the greatest Cuban musicians of all times: Israel “Cachao” López. Influenced by the Master Sessions, produced by Andy García and winner of a Grammy award, the Big Latin Band pays tribute to one of its main references by arranging the most popular melodies of Cachao, the inventor of the Mambo.
After the success of their latest show, “Gospel meets Latin” in the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, where they performed Gospel classics together with the prestigious London Community Gospel Choir, the Big Latin Band returns to its roots.
Consisting of the best Spanish Jazz and Latin Jazz soloists, the Big Latin Band shows a high level of musical maturity, acquired by years of playing together and through monthly performances at the prestigious Jamboree Jazz Club of Barcelona, a reference for European Jazz.
Musicians
Ramon Escalé: piano & conductor. Victor Correa: trombone. Sergi Vergés; bass trombone. David Pastor: trumpet Jaume Peña: trumpet. Guillermo Calliero: trumpet & ugelhorn. Victor de Diego: alto sax & ute. Martí Serra: tenor sax & soprano sax. Joan Chamorro: baritone sax & clarinet. Gorka Benítez: tenor sax & ute. Isaac Coll: bass. Àlex Ventura: paila. Vicenç Soler: conga. Quino Béjar bongó
Discography Live ! Festival de Jazz de Barcelona. 1997 Bueno pa gozar . ( 2001 ) Suite Llatina 0.7 ( 2004 )
LA VANGUARDIA Donat Putx “ …. The great attraction of the evening : the debut of “ Suite Llatina 0.7 “ written and arranged by Ramon Escalé , pianist , leader af the Big Latin Band , a musical group of unquestionable taste .
EL PERIODICO Joan Anton Cararach ”Big night with a very powerful and impressive show”
JAZZBUFFALO.COM . Luís Moreno “The most surprising thing about the Big Latin Band’s new work is the amazing and successful integration of the golden age of Jazz music. On top of that, it is combined with *Spirituals* of the North American Religious African- American music. Without losing the Latin touch. The “Suite Llatina 0.7” is a live show full of improvisation and overwhelming solos.“
DIARI AVUI . Pere Pons ”Ramon Escalé and Roger Font have succeeded in creating an amazing big band, which performs an powerful and vibrant show.
EL PAÍS. Miquel Jurado “The pianist Ramón Escalé, leader of the band and author of its numbers, has achieved a solid product which now has a life of its own. Anyone coming close will find it hard to keep still.”
BUTLLETÍ AMJC . Andreu Fàbregas “Musical plurality and cohesion describe the third project of the Big Latin Band “Suite Llatina 0.7”. Ramón Escalè’s arrangements achieve to deliver a risky and unpredictable message of high musical communication.”
TOMAJAZZ:COM. Carlos Pérez “The Big Latin shines in its compositions, shines in its arrangements and shines in the quality of some great musicians, many of whom are at the forefront of Spanish jazz. The album is recorded live, something that should not be ignored as it further underlines the mastery of these musicians who offer a stage performance really making them a force to be reckoned with.”
EL FARO DE VIGO “It’s a tremendous band, it certainly is. The Big Latin Band took centre stage at a superconcert enjoyed by lovers of salsa as well as jazz fans.”
DIARI DE MENORCA Javier Morales “They lived up to expectations: the Big Latin Band’s mix of jazz and Cuban son was enjoyed by the audience in a Caribbean spirit.
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