Sant Andreu and jazz have gone hand in hand since Joan Chamorro began to inoculate his passion for that music that emerged in the US as a result of the melting pot of cultures and spread his swing to children who have become outstanding figures thanks to his method. In the Sant Andreu Jazz Band (SAJB) the famous multi-instrumentalist took their first steps Andrea Motis, who has recorded some albums with labels such as Verve and Impulse! and the trombonist Rita Payes who, beyond his career, accompanied C.Tangana on his ‘El madrileño’ tour. Many others have emerged from this formation that this year reaches the tenth edition of its Jazzing festival with a powerful proramation in the Fabra i Coats, from September 1 to 3.
In addition to the magnetic SAJB, this year the Mexican Cedros Big Band, the Galician Imagine Jazz Orchestra from Vigo, the Swiss Jazzing Friborg Orchestra and Fredi’s Jazz Band from Matadepera will play at the tenth edition of Jazzing. Saxophonists of the stature of Joel Frahm and of Scott Hamilton, among others, two luxury guests. Beyond being able to see them live, both will offer master classes to the young members of this band-school with musicians that range from 7 at 21 years old. The youngest are currently the brothers Nils and Sander Theuns who play drums and sax, respectively, in the very young Dixie of the SAJB.
Elsa Armengou was short of 6 when she arrived at the SAJB, the trumpet was almost bigger than her but she left everyone stunned when she played
Having two internationally important tenor saxophones such as Hamilton and Fram is something that no longer surprises the members of the SAJB, who have aroused the admiration of great artists. “Hamilton has recorded a lot with us. Fram is the first time he has come to Jazzing but we played with him at the Palau de la Música in 2015 and it was incredible. We also played with him on a tour we did with Andrea Motis in the US”, remember Chamorro. His teaching system only one in the world, It has become a benchmark.
Commitment and enthusiasm
The Chamorro multi-instrumentalist exposes his young performers to music and concerts from a very young age. There is no better motivation than preparing for a performance, a tour or a record. He, who directs the group with the same impetus with which he instructs his students. Valuing both his talent and his desire to learn, not age. Elsa Armengou who is now 15 years old, when she arrived at the SAJB she was a short 6 and the trumpet was almost bigger than her but he wowed everyone when he played.
To his pupils Chamorro transmits his enthusiasm for jazz motivates them to listen and discover artists from other times. So that they get over it. The SAJB is an ecosystem based on mutual trust where everyone must contribute their bit. Chamorro always encourages them to want to go further, to explore and not settle for what they already know. In music, as in life, if you don’t evolve and do different things, you get bored.. The same is true of jazz: you need creativity and improvisation to bring it to life. The desire and energy of this young and well-tuned group is a model admired throughout the world.
At the SAJB they learn to love jazz based on sing and dance, not only playing his instrument or reading a score with a teacher and director who both answers questions, as well as clears up doubts of his young musicians and makes suggestions so that they can expand their knowledge. He encourages them to listen, transcribe, imitate, improvise, practice, share and, above all, enjoy the music. like it’s a game but they must try.
“The Sant Andreu Jazz Band has been the best musical school I could have had. But it has also instilled in me values, work discipline and humility”
“The Sant Andreu Jazz Band has been the best musical school I could have had. But it has also instilled in me certain values, work discipline and humility. My colleagues are like a big family”, says Jan Domènech Vayreda, a pianist and composer who currently lives in the Netherlands where he works with a jazz trio that he combines with a quintet with original music that he has formed with some colleagues from the SAJB.
Last year they published an album that has been selected by the Musical Youth of Catalonia. The pianist, who has already participated in 30 albums, including ‘When love is around’ with the singer Paula Barranco, the SAJB allowed him to expose himself to formidable experiences at a very young age. Among the best memories of him, he values ”the moments in which we have played with great invited musicians, especially the concert of my presentation with Joe Magnarelli, Dick Oatts and Scott Hamilton”. And among the most difficult, he points out “how difficult it was to concentrate at concerts during long bus trips. But they were also great moments in which I learned a lot.”
“I have been able to be on stage continuously putting everything I was studying into professional practice and recording with international level musicians”
For Elia Bastida Entering the SAJB was discovering another world. “I was 17 years old when I entered, I was finishing 2nd year of high school and 6th year of classical violin, I was super determined to introduce myself to the superior of classical and my day to day was totally focused on this style of music”, she recalls. But preparing the two pieces that Joan Chamorro had asked her to enter made her change. “I began to discover another very rich musical world that gave me one of the things that I found missing in the classical, freedom of creation. The world of improvisation, the freedom that jazz gives, the infinite ways of playing each melody, the harmonies, opened up the possibility of dedicating myself to this music and I saw it very clearly in a few months. I wanted to dedicate myself to jazz. I started to study a lot to get into this new language and then I decided to apply to the jazz superior instead of the classical one, but without stopping playing classical”.
Like the rest of his colleagues, he values having had “the opportunity to be on stage continuously, putting into practice everything I was studying professionally, recording with internationally renowned musicians and recording the first album under my name ‘Joan Chamorro presents Èlia Bastida’. The SAJB has allowed me to reach a lot of people. It has really been a gift to be part of this big band!” says the violinist, who is preparing her sixth album. In addition to playing in various ensembles such as HalliGalli Quartet who will open Jazzing this Friday, last year he published his jazz violin methodology ‘Swing with your violin’ (Boileau).
80 musicians in 18 years
Most of those who follow the Chamorro method They end up devoting themselves professionally to music. “They tend to pursue higher education in the Esmuc, the Liceu or the Taller de Músics. And they leave the SAJB to fly on their own around the age of 20 or 21,” recalls Chamorro, a true orchestra man. “80% end up dedicating themselves to music, a couple have opted for pedagogy and the rest have done other careers,” he highlights. The SAJB will soon be 18 years old. “More than 80 musicians have passed through it and we have recorded almost 50 albums.” His small house in Sant Andreu, narrow and long, is also his workplace and his recording studio.
“When this started we were a group of six. We had a great time and it became a school and an inspiration for many people”
More followers on YouTube than Lincoln Center
Chamorro never imagined the path his idea of encouraging some kids to play jazz would take. “When this started we were a group of six. We had a great time. That ended up becoming a school and an inspiration for many people around the world.” The group keeps changing but their DNA remains intact. “Every year about four children enter, others leave because they get older and start their careers”, Explain. But many remain attached to the SAJB and often perform as guest artists. Your YouTube channel It has almost 250,000 registered, an outrage. “If we have more than Lincoln Center”, Chamorro points out that he has explained his method and philosophy of work in many places, including the prestigious Stanford University (USA). And some videos exceed six million views.
“Most of the best-known SAJB performers are girls: Andrea Motis, Rita Payés, Magalí Datzira, Eva Fernández, Alba Armengou… That is largely because all of them, in addition to playing an instrument, have developed as singers. And these are usually always the most famous among the general public. People know Nat King Cole, Nina Simone and Diana Krall more than Thelonious Monk or Joe Lovano, who are two ‘cracks'”, points out Chamorro. In this sense, he recommends not losing sight of other members and ex-members of the group such as the saxophonists Koldo Munné and Marçal Perramonthe trombonist Joan Codinathe trumpeter Joan Mar Sauque or the pianist marc martin.
Discontent
What will happen when Chamorro is not there? Will this phenomenal project continue? “My legacy will remain in the people who have learned with me. I have the satisfaction of seeing how they have grown as people and as artists.” This project is his life. Chamorro dedicates all the hours to it because he takes care of everything and only delegates the organizational aspects to white roosterhis faithful collaborator who helps him with tasks such as the last tour they have done through Austria and Hungary.
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“This works because I also play and I love teaching. I have never thought about continuing this project or taking it to another site. Nothing. One of my mottos is: the important thing is the way. And as long as I’m happy and the way works, that is, as long as the SAJB can hold out financially, I will continue”. It’s a warning because This year Jazzing has been left without help from the District of Sant Andreu and one of his performances in the middle of the street has been eliminated. Chamorro demands more support. “I don’t charge anything for organizing this festival. The children don’t pay anything either because the SAJB is financed by concerts and records.”
Of the 100,000 euros for this 10th edition of Jazzing, 47,000 comes from public aid: 30,000 from the Barcelona City Council (Tourism), 6,000 from the ICUB and 11,000 from the ICEC.