Joan Chamorro and the SAJB in 2024

Garry Berman
9 min readJun 23, 2024

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The Sant Andreu Jazz Band has been a consistently inspiring yet ever-changing entity (especially in terms of personnel) since its creation in 2006. Breathing new life into classic jazz by celebrating it, and teaching it to young musicians to perform, continues to be the SAJB’s raison d’être. So, as 2024 passes its midway point, it seems a good time to provide an update of the project’s activities, as mapped out by founder/director Joan Chamorro, by discussing with him the events that have taken place so far this year, and those still to come.

On a personal level, the most momentous event of the year came in early spring, when Chamorro and Elia Bastida welcomed their son Kai into the world.

“The experience has been wonderful,” Chamorro says. “We are super happy with Kai. Life changes completely but between the two of us we know how to adapt perfectly to new times.”

Indeed, they have already begun to mesh life as parents with that of being world-class musicians. “We have already started with the concerts and so far, with the help of family and friends who are with Kai when we play, everything is working super well.”

Sant Andreu Reunion Band at the airport in May, coming back from the Vetusta Jazz Festival in Oviedo.

Elia joins former SAJB members and young mothers Andrea Motis and Rita Payes in balancing life as a working musician and mom. Did she seek any advice from them?

“I imagine that they have spoken among themselves,” Chamorro says. “I’m sure they have. They are in contact and exchange situations and emotions. From Andrea, we received some baby clothes that we are using. A baby wears a lot of clothes and changes size so quickly that they immediately have to be changed.”

After taking a few months off, Elia resumed her schedule with different formats: touring with Chamorro as a duo, with guitarist Josep Traver for gigs as a trio, and with special collaborator Scott Hamilton, with whom she has recorded many times, most notably for the album Elia Bastida Meets Scott Hamilton. “This year we have had several wonderful concerts,” Chamorro says, “especially Èlia’s tour of three concerts together with Scott.”

Josep Traver, Joan Chamorro, Elia, Scott Hamilton, and Arnau Julia.

Chamorro’s ability to maintain his famously crammed schedule of activity is impressive enough, but the rest of us should bear in mind that for every live performance, there have been many rehearsals, traveling, and logistical issues to deal with. But this has been the case for the past 18 years. He maintains the pace simply because he loves it, and he is glad to recall still more highlights of the first half of 2024. including the Reunion Band concert in Oviedo for the Vestrusta Jazz Festival, and the concert with the Sant Andreu Dixie band, on International Jazz Day.

The expanded version of the SAJB Dixie Band for their International Jazz Day appearance in April.

While the first half of the year was indeed a busy one, there is much on the calendar for the months ahead: “The recording of the Elsa Armengou CD is in July, and many other concerts to come. I’m really very happy with everything we have this year.”

Swinging at the Barcelona Jazz Festival in April.

He also considers the recent concert by the SAJB sax section at the Jamboree to have been another highlight. “That concert was wonderful. We had been wanting to do this repertoire for a long time. The current SAJB saxophonists sound incredible and they are all jazz musicians.”

“In fact,” he continues, “I’m thinking about doing more concerts with them, and why not record some CDs. The question is always economic. But I have a lot of desire and enthusiasm.”

The summer will include a series of Jamboree gigs featuring trumpeter Elsa Armengou, who became an SAJB member when she was six years old, and now plays lead trumpet in the band. The summer gigs will be part of her upcoming presenta CD.

Older sister Alba gives Elsa a few pointers, as captured in the 2012 Roman Tort documentary “Kids and Music.”

“The concert for the recording of Elsa Armengou is in July,” Chamorro says, “and will be completed with some songs that we will record in September, at the Jazzing festival. We have chosen the repertoire between the two of us, and we have requested arrangements that we will perform at the Jamboree.”

Those performances and resulting CD will bring Elsa back to center stage, where she has impressed SAJB audiences with occasional and beautifully played solo pieces through the years. But she has mostly provided section work in the trumpet section alongside sister Alba, until Alba’s departure in 2022 — upon which Elsa became first trumpet.

In May of 2022, Elsa, Koldo Munné , Alba Esteban, and Gerard Penaranda shared the spotlight for a collaboration with the WDR Big Band at the Kölner Philharmonie in Germany.

“Elsa’s presentation album is very special to me, for many reasons, Chamorro says. “Elsa is a great trumpet player who has evolved a lot in the last two years, and I am sure that she will become, if she is not already, a great solo trumpet player, with a personality all her own. It was a matter of time before she began to bloom.”

Later in the summer, trombonist-singer Claudia Rostey will be doing a test run of sorts, in anticipation of her own presenta CD next year. Fans have been consistently thrilled by Claudia’s self-assured vocals on popular standards, as well as her skills on trombone. “In August, the concert with Claudia is not to be recorded,” Chamorro explains. “It is only a preparation, for what is to come — some songs in September at the Jazzing festival, and by 2025 we will record the presentation CD for it.”

Claudia’s commitment to “You’ve Changed” overcomes less-than-ideal audio.

And, for those who are curious, Elsa and Claudia will still be around for a while — demonstrating that, along with Koldo Munne’s presenta CD release last year, each milestone on disc need not always indicate a prompt departure from the band. “In principle, both Elsa and Claudia will be with us next year,” Chamorro says, “I also have Lola Peñaranda’s and Pau Garcia’s in mind. And other names that will appear in the future. I hope to realize all these dreams in the next three or four years.”

The SAJB’s annual Jazzing Fest will also return, beginning in the last week of August, and extending for a longer duration than usual — nearly a full week.

The theme will be “The New York-Berlin-Barcelona Connection,” and will see the return of several American musicians who have played with the SAJB in years’ past. An essential element of Jazzing is the Education Stage, consisting of workshops and master classes for amateur musicians (guests are invited to bring their own instruments to take part), rehearsals, and demonstrations by musical guests.

One of the Education Stage classes at 2023 Jazzing.

The extended nature of the festival this year, Chamorro says, comes from “the idea of doing a more extensive jazz education, to be able to work a little more with the people who come. This year there are also fewer concerts.” He adds, “I think that the idea for coming years would be to further promote the jazz education stage, although without abandoning the concerts, of course. The concerts at the Jazzing Festival in September will also be very special. ”

Each November, the SAJB takes part in the Barcelona Jazz Festival by presenting a special concert at the ornate Palau de Musica in the city.

“This year’s Palau concert will be a tribute to Sinatra, and of course the main voice will be that of [former SAJB musician-singer] Edu Ferrer.” Ferrer has been performing his Sinatra tribute program in recent years, including the 2023 Jazzing. “I have been working with Edu for a couple of years,” Chamorro says, “and I think that the Palau concert could be a challenge for him and a key point in his career.

“There will be some classics in the repertoire, but the idea is to write some different arrangements, with the addition of the Èlia Bastida String quartet. The proposal is working very well in terms of input. I hope the palau fills up to hear and see our show.”

Evoking the spirit of Sinatra at the 2022 “Passing the Torch” concert.

Thinking much further ahead, 2026 will be the SAJB’s 20th anniversary year. “I’m already thinking about it, but since I have so many activities and also a new important person in my life, I haven’t done it in depth. But yes, we will do something to celebrate the 20 years of the SAJB.
IT’S A MIRACLE TO HAVE GOT HERE.”

A miracle, maybe. Hard work and perseverance, for sure. A gift to the city of Barcelona and jazz fans around the world, without a doubt.

Until next time…

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Garry Berman
Garry Berman

Written by Garry Berman

Pop Culture historian, Freelance Writer, Author, specializing in American comedy history in films, radio, and TV. Beatles and jazz enthusiast, animal lover.

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