Sedajazz Latin Ensemble

HISTORY OF THE BAND

"Since its foundation in 1991 as a collective of independent musicians in Valencia, Sedajazz has come a long way, becoming a meeting point for the creation of jazz and a workshop for continuous learning into which we have poured our hearts and souls."

Francisco Ángel Blanco "Latino". Music Director. Sedajazz.

Today, Sedajazz is a large organization with more than 20 years of history which has communicated its musical strength through seminars and international festivals, CD recordings, an endless number of concerts and shows, music and training events and, above all, Sedajazz has been an educational forum for some of the best jazz orchestras on the Spanish music scene.

Famous names such as Pat Metheny, Bob Mintzer, Jerry Bergonzi, Jorge Pardo, Perico Sambeat, Marc Turner, Horacio "El Negro" Hernández, Jordi Rossy, Mike P. Mossman, Bruce Barth, Arturo O'farril, Chano Domínguez, Maria Pia de Vito, Jeanne Lee, Ramón Valle, Miguel "Anga" Díaz and Kurt Rosenwinkel have collaborated with Sedajazz in CD recordings, performances, seminars and other international musical productions. Sedajazz has represented Valencian jazz in Portugal, France, Germany, Jerusalem, Mexico, South Africa and Mozambique.

Sedajazz works on diverse projects, a wide portfolio which has built its reputation among specialists and music-lovers as one of the best and most complete jazz music organizations on today's European music scene.

Sedajazz has released CDs which stand out in the history of Spanish jazz. As a record label, Sedajazz Records has released over twenty new CDs which have been well-received by the media and general public.
One of the collective's most prestigious formations is the Sedajazz Latin Ensemble which offers us a repertoire of Latin Jazz, original compositions which are included in their latest CDs.

"Este También", was named best CD of 2000 by "Cuadernos de Jazz" in the Off Jazz section, and was preselected for the Grammy Awards. They also took part in the Mediterrania '01 (SGAE) show in Madrid, and in the accompanying compilation CD.

"Envenenado" is the group's latest CD. It has been received very well by the media, receiving critical praise from "World Music" and "Cuadernos de Jazz" (who gave it 4 stars) and international jazz magazines.

The group is regularly invited to take part in the most prestigious festivals in Spain.

The nine musicians who make up the ensemble are renowned performers:

Angel Blanco "Latino" (Baritone Saxophone), Jesús Santandreu (Tenor Saxophone), Vicente Macián (Alto Saxophone), Toni Belenguer (Trombone), David Pastor (Trumpet), Kontxi Lorente (Piano), Felip Santandreu (Drums), Ales Cesarini (Double Bass) and Carlos Llidó (Congas)..

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Francisco Angel Blanco “Latino”

The saxophonist and flautist, Francisco Ángel Blanco "Latino", was born on 22 November 1966. He was born in Cordoba but Valencia is his adopted home. He studied at the Music Association in Sedavi and completed his training at the Valencia Superior Conservatory of Music where he was awarded his Saxophone Teacher qualifications. His jazz training included studying and taking part in seminars and master classes in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Portugal with Dave Schnnitter, Bobby Watson, Pedro Iturralde, Jerry Bergonzi, Barry Harris, Johny Griffin, Mike P. Mossman, Perico Sambeat, Frank Tiberi and Greg Hopkins, among others.

Since 1991 he has directed the Sedajazz music collective and ensembles such as the "Sedaví Big Band", the "Sedajazz Latin Ensemble", the "Sedajazz Orchestra", the "Nova Dixieland Band" and the "Combo Reunion", with which he has taken part in the most prestigious jazz festivals in Spain and also in Cerdeña (Italy), France, Portugal, Mainz (Germany), Palestine, South Africa, Mozambique and Mexico.

In the course of various Sedajazz projects he has played and recorded with famous musicians such as Pat Metheny, Miguel "Angá" Diaz, Perico Sambeat, Jordi Rossy, Arturo O'Farril, Mike P. Mossman, Jorge Pardo, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Chris Check, Bernardo Sasseti, Maria Pia de Vito, Bruce Barth, Debora J. Carter, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Marck Turner, Chano Domínguez and Ze Eduardo.

In the field of jazz he has collaborated with Saxomanía, 4sax, Natura Color, Joshua Edelman & Conexiones with Steve Turre, Perico Sambeat Flamenco Big Band, Chano Domínguez and Martirio with the TVE Orchestra, the Big Band of Bellaterra, Carmen Canela & Lluis Vidal, and Jordi Vilà i els seus amics.

In the field of pop music he has been a member of the group Presuntos Implicados for ten years, recording and touring with them in Spain, Mexico, Central America and Puerto Rico. He has also accompanied other artists on tours and in concert, such as Armando Manzanero, Paco Muñoz, Lola Flores, Clara Montes, Serrat, Emilio Aragón, Sonora Latina, Seguridad Social, Orquesta Eduardo Leyva, Nina, and Betty Harris.

He is currently presenting Sedajazz projects all over Spain and accompanying Soledad Giménez.