Argüelles’ quartethas been described as an inspiring, adventurous, soulful, and is highly recommended to anyone who gets pleasure from listening to music: jazz or otherwise. This outfit, defined by deftly executed tempo changes and improvisatory touches, are reported to impress with high quality in both the writing and the playing. The leader, Argüelles, has been described as a composite of Charles Lloyd and Wayne Shorter. Throw in comparisons to that of Holst, Elgar and Finzi with some moving Spanish folk and grooving South African influences, and you pretty much have the makings of “a joyous listening experience”.
Argüelles has built an impressive reputation for presenting world-standard small-band post-bop that now spans almost three decades. His quartet include some of the UK’s best young talent with Ivo Neame on piano (Phronesis), Sam Lasserson bass and James Maddren drums. The quartet have been likened, in the past, to Keith Jarrett's 1970s European quartet in terms of their level of improvisation and composition.
Argüelles says: “Making this album was a lot of fun. The title “Tonadas” roughly translated means a poetic song form from Northern Spain. The music I’ve written for this album is mainly influenced by Spanish music from around the world. I’m really looking forward to going out on the road with these talented musicians, sharing the music and continuing the wonderful vibe we had in the studio, with new audiences.”
Born in Birmingham, UK in 1966 to Anglo Spanish parents, Argüelles has toured and recorded throughout the world with leading musicians such as Hermeto Pascoal, Dave Holland, John Taylor, Loose Tubes, Carla Bley, Django Bates, John Scoffield, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Mario Laginha and Bill Frisell. He left the UK in 2015 to take up a Professorship at the KUG Jazz Institute in Graz, Austria. The oldest established jazz course in Europe. He is proud of his Birmingham roots and was delighted to receive an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2017 for services to music. He looks forward to performing there as part of this tour.
