JOSEP-MANEL VEGA

GUITARIST / COMPOSER / IMPROVISER

Barcelona, 1965.

My grandfather (Josep Baiget) was my first teacher. I studied musical language and harmony with him and then classical guitar with several teachers (Jordi Belza, Mariano Capella, Guillem Pérez-Quer, William Waters, Danielle Kassner), modern music (Joan Munné, Xavier Prats) and flamenco (Manuel Castilla). However, it was exploring by myself how I eventually developed my personal language with a special interest focused on improvisation.

I published a first album entitled Space, silence and wind (Liquid Records, Barcelona) in 1999 and, since then, up to ten more recordings leading groups or acting as a soloist.

"Exceeds in originality the common everage of our musical scene. Essentially improvised music seeking to break limits and barriers." - El País

"Progressive music against the tide" - El Periódico de Catalunya

"Healing music made to fill yourself up with" - Arts To Rise

"A fantastic listening experience. Beautiful music imbued with such beauty, austerity and honesty. Very intelligent lines, wonderful moving aroung musical centres and a great feeling for developments reminding the most beautful lines of Steve Lacy or Bob Brookmeyer. Wonderful turnings of melodies, clever execution of given material and just a great listening experience!" - Radu Malfatti

"Freedom and discipline, a graphic expression of music and instantaneous composition that is only possible through improvisation, collective creation and, therefore, ideal to be produced live." - Víctor Nubla

"It is very interesting and put me in mind of the area of work Robert Fripp and King Crimson were doing and still do." - David Enthoven

"Very nice atmosphere and sound." - Daniel Filas