Oscar Penas

“The music will certainly leave the listener with a joyful and playful feeling; Peñas’ focus on making good heartfelt music is a breath of fresh air.” JazzTime

Oscar Peñas is a Spanish-born jazz guitarist and composer for chamber and jazz ensembles. He is an American citizen and has been an integral part of New York's music scene for a decade. Originally trained in classical guitar in his hometown of Barcelona, Peñas discovered the fascinating world of jazz as a teenager. Since the early 2000s, he has performed, taught, and recorded around the world, releasing his first two album with the label Fresh Sound New Talent following with two self- produced albums, all as leader. His collaborators include Grammy winners Paquito D'Rivera, Gil Goldstein, and Esperanza Spalding.

“The music will certainly leave the listener with a joyful and playful feeling; Peñas’ focus on making good heartfelt music is a breath of fresh air.” JazzTime

Peñas' diverse compositions transcend genres, cultures, and styles with graceful, powerful fluidity. Due to his unique cultural prestige, he has received the ASCAP Plus Award every year from 2012 through 2015. Peñas has performed around the world at festivals, performing arts centers and clubs such as the Kennedy Center, the Music Center at Strathmore, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music, Blue Note, 55 Bar, Duc des Lombards, and Jamboree. He is passionate about community outreach, offering free teaching clinics and masterclasses to impoverished children in Panama City and the Domincan Republic, through Foundation Danilo Perez and FeduJazz, respectively. Currently teaching at the 92Y in New York City, Peñas is an alumnus of both the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory, as well as a member of Local 802, LARAS and NARAS.

Recordings and Broadcast Oscar Peñas, Music of Departures and Returns (w. Paquito D’Rivera and Esperanza Spalding), Musikoz, 2014 Oscar Peñas, From Now On (feat. Gil Goldstein), BJUR, 2011 Oscar Peñas Group, The Return of Astronautus, Fresh Sound New Talent, 2006 Oscar Peñas Group, Astronautus, Fresh Sound New Talent, 2003

Printed feature articles: Guitar Player, Downbeat, Jazziz, JazzTimes, Smithsonian, All About Jazz, ASCAP Audio Portraits, Chicago Hoy, El Nuevo Dia, Puerto Rico, La Vanguardia, Avui, El Periódico de Cataluña. Radio: WBGO, WPTZ-News Channel 5, WNYC-Soundcheck, The Phoenix-WNYU, Via Lluire-Rac1, L’Home del Jazz-RNE4, Sonideros-RNE3, Radio Rebelde, Radio Marti, TSFJazz, Radio France - Open Jazz - France Musique, Abu Dhabi Classic FM, JAZZ.FM91- Canada.

Awards

20th Annual USA Songwriting Competition, Jazz, Finalist 2015 11th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards), Finalist 2015 14th Annual Independent Music Awards, Jazz Instrumental Song, Finalist 2015 19th Annual USA Songwriting Competition, Instrumental Jazz, Finalist 2014 ASCAP Plus Award, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 Professional Music Achievement Award, Berklee College of Music, 1999

Show less

CD/LP/Track Review

Music Of Departures And Returns by Dan Bilawsky
From Now On by Dan Bilawsky

Interview

Oscar Penas: From Barcelona to Brooklyn

CD/LP/Track Review

Astronautus by AAJ Staff

”Oscar is a beautiful player with a totally unique sense of sound and color in his writing...” - Esperanza Spalding

“Oscar Peñas has a very well-traveled musical passport. Born in Spain, he sounds like a citizen of the world, crossing musical borders with quick and sure footing. I have seen his style develop and expand in the past five years I have known him and have been happy to be a passenger on his journeys. I am sure he will continue to develop and expand and we all wait for his next musical travels.” - Gil Goldstein

“Surrounded by a real orgy of loud and louder recordings, Oscar Peñas' new CD feels like an oasis of variety and good musical taste

”Oscar is a beautiful player with a totally unique sense of sound and color in his writing...” - Esperanza Spalding

“Surrounded by a real orgy of loud and louder recordings, Oscar Peñas' new CD feels like an oasis of variety and good musical taste. It was also great fun playing my C clarinet on that charming Chorinho he wrote for me!” - Paquito D’Rivera

“Mr. Peñas has become a marvelous storyteller.” Jazz Da Gama

“ Music of Departures and Returns is an enjoyable collection of styles and sounds from around the world presented with heart felt joy and clarity. The music will certainly leave the listener with a joyful and playful feeling; Peñas’ focus on making good heartfelt music is a breath of fresh air.” JazzTime

” …Peñas offers a lithe, sparkling solo that displays his deep affection for the music” Jazziz Magazine, OnDisc

…the album displays Peñas’s confident and clear phrasing, which is cast into high relief through interplay with Caswell’s violin. - Tim Wilkins, WBGO

In this day and age, when a large chunk of the jazz community views conceptual rigor and the creation of high art as a moral imperative, it's a joyous thing to hear artists like Peñas buck the trend; he simply plays what he enjoys. - Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

Mr. Peñas, a crisp Catalan guitarist, has a new album, “Music of Departures and Returns,” that suggests a personal spin not only through the music of his heritage but also that of Cuba and the Americas. - Nate Chinen, NY Times

Peñas practices economical simplicity, displaying astute prowess commendable for its modesty and ease. - Bob Gendron, Downbeat Magazine (4 stars)

This is a delightful journey, guided by an artist with a rich imagination. - Marcia Hillman, The New York City Jazz Record

The music [of Music of Departures and Returns] will certainly leave the listener with a joyful and playful feeling; Peñas’ focus on making good heartfelt music is a breath of fresh air. - Douglas Reid, The Examiner

“…the recording, a collection of sublime compositions that delve deeply into his Spanish heritage while simultaneously honoring his jazz mastery” Jake Hertzog, Guitar Player Magazine

“Peñas is a guitarist with a classy, mahogany hued aesthetic.” Michael Jackson, Downbeat

“There are many excellent CDs released every year in the realm of jazz, but it remains a rare occurrence when an album takes the listener on a unique journey from start to finish. Maybe it's because Oscar Penas, the superb guitar player who wrote all eight compositions on “From Now On,””… Ron Netsky, Rochester City Newspaper

“From Now On is one of those romantic albums that grasps hold of you quickly. Warm, opening and refreshing—Oscar Penas hopefully won't be an unkept secret from many. From Now On is an album that should be universally praised and rewarded. A definite must listen...” Stephan Moore, JazzWrap | A Jazz Music Blog

“Within this special genre, Oscar Peñas is a musician with a special sound.” Ivan Rod, Gaffa.dk

“Oscar Peñas is a musical artist painting from a bold sonic color palette while striking a balance between the organic and vibrant sounds from his native Barcelona and those of the Big Apple.” Brent L. Black, Jazzreview

“Oscar's music is inviting and from the soul; finely cultivated and fully realized...his writing and playing have beautiful motion and uniquely sensuous melodies.” Esperanza Spalding

“Oscar is a very dedicated musician with a unique sound and creative writing” Luciana Souza

“Oscar Peñas has found a way to merge traditional Spanish music with Jazz in a way that seems totally natural and fresh. He also recorded them in a natural way, without overproducing them, and allowed himself and the players carte blanche to find their own personalities within the music. A rare quality for records that are produced today and makes itunique and refreshing for all listeners.” Gil Goldstein

“Peñas is not a technical guitar player, but more of a sound sculptor...” Budd Kopman, Cadence

“When he soloes, he is spare and to the point” Marc Meyers, All About Jazz

Show less

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Location

Brooklyn, NY

Willing to teach

Advanced students only.

Credentials/Background

Teaching Experience 92Y School of the Arts, New York City, NY, Faculty, 2012- present ◦ Guitar teacher, group and individual lessons Private Studio, Private Instructor, Brooklyn, NY, 2007- present ◦ Electric and classical guitar, jazz harmony and ear training Community Roots Charter School, Faculty, Brooklyn, NY, 2010- 2011 ◦ After-school guitar, group guitar lessons Brooklyn Music School, Faculty, Brooklyn, NY, 2009- 2012 ◦ Taught guitar and jazz ensembles Taller de Músics, Faculty, Barcelona, Spain, 2000-05 ◦ Taught guitar, jazz ensembles, repertoire and improvisation.