Ximo Tebar

«Le jazzman espagnol… un improvisateur de aute volée» [Jazz Magazine]; “Sound of surprise” [All About Jazz New York]; “Spanish jazz guitarist Ximo Tebar, it’s all magical, sophisticated and surprising” [JazzTimes Magazine].

Ximo Tébar (Valencia 1963) is “Marca España” [Spanish Brand], a tasty fusion influenced by the classics, art of methodical virtuosity and daring jazzistic innovation. More than three decades ago, jazz guitarist, composer and producer Ximo Tebar began to promote his own projects fusing jazz with Mediterranean music. The result of his extraordinary research work on the fusion of Mediterranean music with jazz has led him to be recognized as creator of “Son Mediterráneo”, a jazzy sound with Flamenco-Mediterranean flavor and fragrance. “Jazz with a sea flavor”.

Ximo is a connoisseur of jazz tradition and way of playing the guitar and has been endorsed publicly by prominent jazz masters as Benny Golson and George Benson. He has never stopped playing with jazz giants (Johnny Griffin, Benny Golson, Lou Donaldson, Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joe Lovano, Arturo O’Farrill, Tom Harrel, Dave Schnitter, Idris Muhammad…). The great jazz organist Lou Bennett presented him in France as a “new guitar talent”, George Benson defined his style as a new voice of the guitar, Benny Golson said about him “He’s astounding”, and the most prestigious jazz magazines worldwide highlight it as: «Le jazzman espagnol… un improvisateur de aute volée» [Jazz Magazine]; “Sound of surprise” [All About Jazz New York]; “Spanish jazz guitarist Ximo Tebar, it’s all magical, sophisticated and surprising” [JazzTimes Magazine].

His extensive discography (17 albums as a leader), the numerous awards he has received (4 times national award by Ministry of Culture 1989-90. Two “Dexter Gordon’s Award” by RTVE “Jazz Entre Amigos” 1991. IAJE New York Education Academy JAZZ AWARD 2007, etc. .), the excellent reviews it has received, and especially the modernity and eclecticism of his music has led him to occupy a special place in the world of contemporary jazz.

BIOGRAPHY [Extended]

Ximo Tebar (Valencia 1963). Recognized by the international trade press as an experimental, progressive and revolutionary musician who has allowed it to be distinguished as the creator of Son Mediterranean (fusion of jazz and flamenco-flavored Mediterranean).

Ximo is a connoisseur of jazz tradition and way of playing the guitar and has been endorsed publicly by prominent jazz masters as Benny Golson and George Benson.

Its international led him to take up residence in New York where he has performed at venues such like the Apollo Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, etc., Collaborating and recording with musicians like Lou Donaldson, Benny Golson, Joe Lovano, Dave Samuels, Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Louie Bellson, Anthony Jackson, Johnny Griffin, Tom Harrell, Idris Muhammad, Arturo O’Farrill or Dave Schnitter, etc.

His extensive discography (16 albums as a leader), the numerous awards he has received (4 times awarded by Ministry of Culture 1989-90. Two “Dexter Gordon’s Award” by RTVE “Jazz Entre Amigos” 1991. IAJE New York Education Academy JAZZ AWARD 2007, etc. .), the excellent reviews it has received, and especially modern eclecticism and his music has led him to occupy a special place in the world of contemporary jazz.

XIMO-TEBAR - JAZZTIMES - USA

In December 2003 he moved to New York taking up residence in Manhattan and begins to creep into the jazz scene playing with Michael P. Yorker Mosmman, Dave Schnitter, Anthony Jackson and Arturo O’Farrill by jazz clubs as Birland, Smoke, Dizzy’s Jazz At Lincoln Center, etc.. In February 2004 signed a contract in New York with Sunnyside Records and began working, with the help of Arturo O’Farrill with the Chico O’Farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra performing every Sunday at the Jazz Club Birland. He also began working with Joe Lovano, Tom Harrell, Dave Samuels, etc. And as producer on recordings.

Considered by critics worldwide as the creator of specialized Mediterranean Son, his extensive discography, 16 discs, cutting wheels consists of traditional jazzy as his great record collection “The Jazz Guitar Trios” (4 volumes recorded alongside the best organists and batteries in the world, Joey defrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smitt, Lou Bennett, Idris Muhammad, Billy Brooks, etc.).

His most original and innovative in the sample as a fusion album, “Son Mediterraneo” (WEA 1992) Disco regarded as one of the 100 best jazz albums of the 90s, “Homepage” (WEA 1998) Nominated ” Best Jazz Album “at the 1999 Music Awards and Spanish first jazz record that has entered the charts. “Embrujado” (Omix 2003), emphasizes the critical disk as: “A full and complete work. Imaginative with great special Jazz”.

In his most experimental and avant-garde album “Eclipse” (Omix 2006) and “Steps” (Omix 2008) have been rated as the best albums of the year by the magazine All About Jazz New York. Also the cd “Celebrating Erik Satie” (2009) is based on experimental work of the brilliant music by French composer Erik Satie arranged key offenders in jazz, free-jazz and contemporary flamenco which was recorded in New York with distinguished musicians as, Sean Jones, Robin Eubanks, Orrin Evans, Jim Ridl, Boris Kozlov and Donald Edwards.

In 2010 he released “A Jazzy World Christmas”, his first cd based theme popular Christmas songs of different countries world-key contemporary jazz collaborations with great voices of modern jazz and world music as JD Walter, Miles Griffith, Maria De Medeiros, Ester Andújar and Thais Morell. International criticism highlights the cd as “An innovative celebration of Christmas music”, “…. Ximo Tebar on this disc presents his view of ethnic traditional Christmas music, once again being” creative and unpredictable “as As emphasized in allmusicguide.com Scott Yanow.’s repertoire includes a selection of ten Christmas songs in the key of jazz versioned with original arrangements mostly written by innovating Tébar tradition of Christmas music, and further enriching his mind with great collaborators on both sides of the Atlantic …. ” Russ Musto – All About Jazz New York.

In 2012 in New York presents its fifteenth album “Jazz Swing and Ballads”, a compilation CD in your collection “Jazz Guitar Trios” with Lou Donaldson, Joey DeFrancesco, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lou Bennett, Idris Muhammad and Billy Brooks. Also in 2012 takes the artistic direction of Lladró Jazz Awards Gala in New York performing with Dave Sanborn, Kenny Barron and Michel Camilo, and then traveled to Europe to perform at major jazz festivals such as San Sebastian Jazzaldía, San Javier Jazz , Bremmen Jazzahead etc..

In 2013 he entered as jazz teacher at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Valencia “Joaquín Rodrigo”.

In 2015, the Valencian Government selects and appoints Ximo Tebar as new director of the “Consell Valencià de Cultura” (CVC), the highest advisory body in cultural matters the government of Valencia.

In 2016, as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of his Son Mediterráneo, Ximo Tebar publishes a new work: “SOLEO” The New Son Mediterranean Celebrating 25th (Warner). This work has received the unanimous recognition of the specialized international criticism and has been presented on tour 2016-2017 with public success and criticism in major festivals and audiences such as: Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, Madrid Jazz Festival, Seville Jazz Festival, San Juan Auditorium ), Birdland New York (USA), San Javier Jazz Festival, Canary Heineken Jazz Festival, Cordoba Guitar Festival, Istanbul Jazz Festival (Turkey),Lagoa International Guitar Festival (Portugal), among many others … To round off this anniversary is also to selling a book, “Ximo Tébar: the guitar of mediterranean jazz“, written by Jose Pruñonosa (doctor in musical research), and edited by Piles (Editorial of Music SA), that makes a tour by the discography of Ximo and by those twenty-five years of career in music.

In 2018 he released a new CD entitled “CON ALMA & UNITED” [Warner] based on peculiar and progressive recreations of standards by Shorter, Gillespie, Ellington, Desmond, Mingus, Monk. The title of the CD is an intelligent word game in two languages, and also refers to two cuts included in the album: “United” by Wayne Shorter with the collaboration of Jorge Pardo and “Con Alma” by Dizzy Gillespie with the collaboration of Arturo O’Farrill in New York. “A new twist in the career of our most international Spanish guitarist, uniting ” in body and Con Alma “a new fusion that takes us from the “Son Mediterraneo” to the Progressive Jazz Mainstream”

He currently directs his record label Omix Records sharing his tours, recordings, record productions, workshops, workshops, seminars and conferences.