Oscar Peñas

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Oscar Peñas

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

Oscar Peñas Cambray (born August 13, 1972, Barcelona, Spain) is a Catalan born and a New York resident jazz guitarist, composer.^[1]

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. Peñas began taking lessons and playing the guitar at age nine yet he received his first guitar at five years old from his parents on a Three Kings Day. Peñas studied classical guitar privately under the guidance of Guillem Pérez Quer, currently a professor at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu, Barcelona and Javier Olondo, New Orlean. 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.^[2] There, his most notable professor and friend was Vicenç Solsona. He also studied with the late Sean Leavitt ^[3] and Horacio Fumero^[4] among others. From this time on, Oscar’s career was clear: He would be a jazz musician.

In 1997 he enrolled at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Some of his influential professors while there were Luciana Souza, Mick Goodrick and Jon Damian.^[5] Peñas graduated in 1999 cum laude, returned to his home city Barcelona and taught 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, Oscar decided to earn his Masters in Jazz Studies ^[6] at New England Conservatory. There, Peñas had the opportunity of learning from professors such as: Charlie Banacos, Danilo Perez, Frank Calberg,^[7] and graduating in 2007.

Peñas moved to New York after graduation where he currently lives, performs and teaches. His original group is a trio and was founded in 2008. It consists of Oscar Peñas on electric and nylon string guitars, Moto Fukushima on six-string electric bass, and Franco Pinna on drums. In November, 2011, Peñas released and self-produced his third album (first in USA) From Now On on BJUR,^[8] with the addition of special guest Gil Goldstein.^[9] Oscar has toured in Spain, France, Cuba and Colombia.

Style

Oscar style changed after Cecil Taylor ^[10]advised him to incorporated music of his cultural heritage, at that moment he used Cecil's critique wisely in his elaborated improvisational savoir faire creativity. Then he was called transnational cool... Peñas creates a soulful style that can best be described as transnational cool by Alana Harper,^[11]Many of Peñas’ compositions are guitar driven and could be played as solo pieces. Oscar is working on his next album and seeking to have a very interesting mix of guests. His musical approach develops with every new collaboration he engages in. He 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.

Awards

2012 ASCAP Plus: The ASCAP ^[12] Plus Awards program provides cash and recognition to writers who create music with a value beyond the scope of performance surveys.

Discography

Astronautus Fresh Sound Records 2003
The Return of Astronautus Fresh Sound Records 2005
From Now On Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records 2011

References

Persondata
Name	Penas, Oscar
Alternative names	Oscar Peñas Cambray
Short description	Jazz musician
Date of birth	August 13, 1972
Place of birth	Barcelona, Spain
Date of death
Place of death

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