London Catalan Festival 2019

Marco Mezquida ‘Ravel’s Dreams’

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Sunday 2 nd June 2019

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

The versatile pianist, improviser and composer Marco Mezquida takes us on an oneiric journey through Maurice Ravel's musical and personal imagery. A dream about the vitality of his legacy and the eclecticism of the music he was seduced by: from the French classics to the romantic virtuosos; from the experimentation with popular music to the influences of his contemporaries and the effervescence of jazz. Along with percussionist Aleix Tobias and cellist Marti?n Mele?ndez, Marco Mezquida delivers a personal, unique approach to Ravel's genius: he permeates it with groove, expands it through improvisation, and creates something entirely new and personal.

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"...explorer of sounds, creator of atmospheres, multiplier of musical presences, one-man orchestra."

Maria Camps

Ravel’s Dreams was first presented at L'Auditori in Barcelona on 20th February 2016. The project was received with critical acclaim by music press and audience, both jazz and classical aficionados. Ravel’s Dreams was recorded in September 2017 and launched in November the same year, again, at L'Auditori de Barcelona. This was one of 5 concerts that Mezquida was invited to perform as part of the Portrait of the Artist series at the 49th Barcelona International Jazz Festival.

ABOUT MARCO

At only 30 years of age, Mezquida shines equally as composer, pianist, improviser, accompanist and bandleader; that he is eclectic and versatile, is to name the obvious. Above all, Marco is a playful and unpredictable artist, who creates a world of his own that is at once inviting and fascinating.

Mezquida is creative and resourceful, blending influences of Keith Jarrett, Schubert, Bill Evans, Rachmaninov and Paul Bley. He lets them all in, invites them to play in his music, integrates them into his stream of consciousness.

Mezquida plays in a large variety of constellations including solo piano, accompanied by orchestras, duos and trios. His music crosses genres, including jazz as well as his original approaches to Ravel, Handel or Chopin, flamenco, or popular Latin American music. One of his most successful projects in the last few years has been Chiquelo y Mezquida, a trio that blends jazz and flamenco together.

The list of artists with whom Mezquida has shared the stage and studio is extensive. Among them, renowned figures like Lee Konitz and Bill McHenry. He has played at venues in 24 countries, including Marciac, Budapest Music Center, Conde Duque of Madrid, Jazzaldia, Jazzahead!, Ko?lner Philharmonie, ORF Auditorium in Vienna, SFJazz and Jazz in the Factory in Sao Paulo.

The Association of Jazz Musicians and Modern Music of Catalonia have awarded him "Musician of the Year” four times in five years. 

https://marcomezquida.com/

Band Lineup

Marco Mezquida (piano)

Martín Meléndez (cello)

Aleix Tobias (percussion)