Soniando (Nuevos Medios, 2015)
This is the second album we’ve received recently where jazz and jota come together. Marta Casas Mairal celebrates the jota, the traditional dance and song style of Aragon in northern Spain. While other jota jazz experiments have incorporated a big band sound, Marta uses a contemporary jazz combo approach.
“Soniando” is her debut album, released on the legendary Nuevos Medios label which has resurfaced this year. Marta Casas has an impressive voice that is perfectly suited for both traditional music and jazz. She is joined by piano, bass and drums. On some pieces she adds guitar and the traditional bandurria which is a traditional Spanish 10-12 string pear-shaped instrument.
The highlights are the pieces where traditional music and the bandurria have a stronger presence, including ‘La jota triste’, ‘Mi amor por Jaca’, ‘Las águilas de Aragón’ and ‘Flor de albahaca’.
Marta Casas was born in Barcelona. Her father is from Barcelona while her mother comes from the province of Huesca in Aragon. She has a degree in musical edication. In 2009 she studied at the Taller de Musics in Barcelona and in 2010 she continued her studies at the Berklee College of Music.
Back in Spain, Marta Casas studied jazz at Conservatorio del Liceu, Throughout her 15-year career, Marta Casas has performed classical music, jazz, soul, rock, rumba, reggae and traditional music.
The lineup on Soniando includes Marta Casas on vocals, Jesús Vidal on bandurria, Gabriel Zenni on piano, Roger Gutiérrez on drums, Eric Kopetz on bass, and Armando Ayara on guitar.
Soniando is an impressive debut by one of the most talented jazz vocalists in Spain.
Buy Soniando
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
