Openas

This is about jazz guitarist Oscar Peñas (Oscar Penas)

Oscar Peñas
Oscar Peñas
Background information
Birth name	Oscar Peñas Cambray
Born	(1972-08-13) August 13, 1972
Origin	Barcelona, Spain
Genres	Jazz, Crossover jazz, Modern jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, Composer
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Fresh Sound New Talent, Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records Musikoz
Website	www.oscarpenas.com

Oscar Peñas Cambray (born August 13, 1972, Barcelona, Spain) is a Catalan born and a USA citizen New York resident jazz guitarist, composer .

Biography

Oscar Peñas was born in Barcelona, Spain, before moving to New York. In his early years, his family traditions were and still are to play and sing during their car trips. His grandfather, from his mother's side, played the trumpet professionally with the Orquesta Gran Gala and occasionally with Xavier Cugat's tours in Europe. Peñas began taking lessons and playing the guitar at age nine, yet he received his first guitar at five years old on Epiphany's day[[1]]. Peñas studied classical guitar privately with Javier Olondo, New Orleans. At seventeen, he discovered and got fascinated by the jazz world changing his musical path and signed up at the Taller de Músics in Barcelona. There, his most notable professor and friend was Vicenç Solsona [[]]. He also studied with the late Sean Leavitt and Horacio Fumero among others. From this time on, Oscar’s career was clear: he was going to be a jazz musician.

In 1997 he enrolled at the Berklee College of Music. Some of his influential professors while there were Luciana Souza, Mick Goodrick and Jon Damian . Peñas graduated cum laude in 1999 and returned to his home city Barcelona, to teach at the Taller de Músics from 2000 to 2005. At the same time, he led the Oscar Peñas Group aka Astronautus; recording two albums Astronautus 2003 and The Return of Astronautus 2005 both with the label Fresh Sound New Talent, as well as performing and touring in Spain. In 2005, awarded with a scholarship, Peñas decided to earn his Masters in Jazz Studies at New England Conservatory. There, he had the opportunity of learning from professors such as: Charlie Banacos, Danilo Perez, Frank Carlberg, graduating with honors in 2007.

Peñas moved to New York where he currently lives, performs and teaches at 92 Second Y. In November, 2011, Peñas released a self-produced album (first in USA) From Now On with BJURecords , with special guest Gil Goldstein. Oscar has toured in Spain, France, Cuba and Colombia. His second release in USA, Music of Departures and Returns (2014) also self produced includes three great friends and collaborators as special guests, Gil Goldstein, Paquito D" Rivera and Esperanza Spalding.

Style

Peñas has an elaborate improvisational savoir faire creativity Peñas creates a soulful style that can best be described as transnational cool by Alana Harper, Many of Peñas’ compositions are guitar driven and could be played as solo pieces. Cecil Taylor, avant-garde jazz icon, advised him to incorporate elements of his cultural heritage to his playing. His musical approach develops with every new collaboration he engages in. Peñas is also interested in different music expressions and others styles, not limited to any particular genres nor labels, Oscar’s goal is to reach to others whose interest and enjoyment is music.

Discography

• Music of Departures and Returns Musikoz 2014
• From Now On Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records 2011
• The Return of Astronautus Fresh Sound Records 2005
• Astronautus Fresh Sound Records 2003