Interview by Oscar Peñas with Jim Hall

Jim talks about arranging, composition, and the nineties.

Interview

Conversation with Jim Hall (4) Girona 2004

"Rabo de Nube," translated as A Tail of a Tornado, is a song written by Cuban songwriter troubadour Silvio Rodríguez. 
This Jazz version is by guitarist Oscar Peñas featuring the Grammy winner bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding.

Music of Departures and Returns

Rabo de Nube

Rabo De Nube

Inspired by the artisanal British beer Samuel Smith featuring Grammy Winner arranger, pianist, accordionist Gil Goldstein

From Now On

Samuel Smith

Catalan-American guitarist-composer is joined by two special guests — guitarist Mike Stern and pedal steel guitar ace Greg Leisz — who help elevate the proceedings on Chicken or Pasta, Peñas' sixth recording as a leader. 
"Chicken or Pasta" is the swinging title track. Peñas introduces his warm-toned guitar signature in tight unison on the buoyant head with violinist Caswell, who swings in a giddy, syncopated Stuff Smith mode on her solo. Oscar's fluid legato solo over the relaxed midtempo 4/4 pulse laid down by Fukushima and Barshay is melodic and tasty in a Jim Hall vein.

Chicken or Pasta

Chicken Or Pasta

01 Chicken Or Pasta

Pedal steel guitarist Greg Lisz creates the perfect atmospheric mood alongside Caswell’s violin on “Spaghetti Western,” Peñas’ composition to salute Ennio Morricone, the longtime musical partner to Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone, a pioneer of the Spaghetti Western genre that gave us such classic Clint Eastwood vehicles as “A Fistful of Dollars” and “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.”

Spaghetti Western

05 Spaghetti Western

Almadraba is an Arabic word; it is a sustainable fishing method first practiced by the Phoenicians at the cost of Andalusia for over 3000 years. "Traveling Through Water" is the title of this song after the journey of the bluefin tunas from the North Atlantic to the Mediterraneo Sea, crossing the Gibraltar Straight. All the music was inspired by the almadraba and almadraberos from Zahara de los Atunes, in Andalusia, Spain. The album features legendary bassist Ron Carter.

Almadraba

TRAVELING THROUGH WATER

01 TRAVELING THROUGH WATER

"El Ronqueo," the instruments evoke the sound of knives rubbing on fish bones.

EL RONQUEO

07 EL RONQUEO

Oscar Peñas wrote all compositions at Berklee Music College in Boston during his student time. 

The album was recorded and released after he returned to his birth town of Barcelona, Spain.

The Return Of Astronautus

San Patricio

Original composition by Oscar Peñas inspired by Brazilian popular urban music originated in Rio de Janeiro.

Oscar Peñas

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