Born in Badalona, he grew up listening to various genres of music in his home. From his father, he was exposed to jazz artists like Arte Blakey, Monk, Max Roach, Miles Davis, Modern Jazz Quartet, and Dave Brubeck. His sisters introduced him to soul and funk music by James Brown, Ottis Redding, Sly & The Family Stone, and Aretha Franklin. His mother, on the other hand, influenced him with zarzuela, cobla, and Catalan folk music.
Between the ages of 10 and 15, he studied piano and music theory at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu. However, his preferred instruments were the drums, which he taught himself to play. At the age of 18, he started studying popular music in schools like Aula and El Taller.
Since 1985, he has been a member and/or founder of numerous musical groups. He has also led his own quartet, with which he has recorded two CDs.
Throughout his career, he had the opportunity to play with renowned musicians such as John Abercrombie, Dave Douglas, Vince Mendoza, Dave Liebman, Fred Hersch, Norma Winstone, Ingrid Jensen, Mark Feldman, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ben Monder, Art Farmer, Chris Cheek, Charles Tolliver, Dave Schnitter, and Mulgrew Miller.
He has recorded over eighty jazz albums.
David Xirgu
Department of Jazz, Flamenco, Popular and Traditional Catalan Music
- In 2009, he obtained a jazz degree from ESMUC.
- In the academic year 2008/09, he joined the faculty of the Jazz Department at the Conservatori Superior del Liceu.
- In March 2003, he conducted a master class at the Taller de Músics titled "The Drummer: A Provocateur. Philosophy and Role of Drummers".
- In 1992, he took classes in New York with Charlie Persip and Vernel Fournier.
- In 1991, he earned a Bachelor’s degree Title from INCANOP.
- From 1981 to 1983, he studied harmony, music theory, and drums at Aula de Música Moderna i Jazz with teachers such as Àngel Pereira, Pipo Tudurí, Andy Phillips, Rafael De La Vega, Antonio Peral, Maria Marlet, Daniel Roth…
- From 1983 to 1986, he studied harmony, drums, and combos at Taller de Músics with instructors like Aldo Caviglia, Zé Eduardo, Lluís Vidal…
- From 1974 to 1979, he studied at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu, focusing on music theory and piano.
Enderrock New Proposal Award 2011: "Carme Canela canta Jordi Matas".
Group of the Year 2007 (Giulia Valle group) according to AMJM.
Best Drummer 2006 Award from the Associació de Músics de Jazz i Música Moderna.
Best Drummer 2005 Award from the Associació de Músics de Jazz i Música Moderna.
JAÇ Magazine Award for Album of the Year for "Sólo la verdad es sexy" by Gorka Benítez.
Jazz Drummer of the Year 2003 Award by Specialized Magazine "Batería Total".
Jazz Drummer of the Year 2002 Award by Specialized Magazine "Batería Total".
Grammy Awards nomination for the album "Tango Reflections" by Adrián Iaies.
Best Drummer in 2001 Award from the Associació de Músics de Jazz i Música Moderna.
AMJC Award for Group of the Year 2000 (David Xirgu Quartet).
Special mention from Radio Nacional (Radio 4) for the album "Ugrix" for its contribution to Catalan jazz.
Catalan Album of the Year 1997 for "Introducing C. Canela + trío" awarded by Radio Nacional – Radio 4.
In 1997, he received awards for Album of the Year for "Ugrix" and Group of the Year with David Xirgu Quartet from the AMJC.
Radio Nacional Award for his Contribution to Jazz in Catalonia (Madagascar).
AMJC Award for Best Album for "Son Song" by the Joan Monné trio.
Best Base Soloist in 1995 according to AMJC.
Best Album according to AMJC for "Tren nocturno" by the Lluís Vidal trio.
AMJC Award for Best Drummer and Best Group in 1993 (Madagascar).
Best Jazz Album in 1989 with the Orquesta del Taller + Tete Montoliu.
He has been a founder and member of a large number of groups since the early '80s, such as Madagascar, Zé Eduardo Unit, Beboporum, Orquesta de l’Associació de Músics de Jazz de Catalunya, A-Free-K, Iñaki Salvador, Carme Canela, Lluís Vidal, Albert Bover, Andrzej Olejniczak Quartet, Gonzalo Tejada Ziklo1, Guillermo Klein, Joan Monné Trio, Gorka Benítez, Giulia Valle, Emilio Solla, etc. With these groups, he has performed at important Jazz festivals throughout Europe, Africa, America, and Asia.
He has also collaborated with the Chamber Orchestra of Teatre Lliure in the following performances:
- "Jazz a Europa, avui " with music by Django Bates and Matthias Rüegg.
- "Ópera de Cuatro Cuartos" by Kurt Weill. Directed by Calixto Bieito.
- “Univers Miles Davis V.O.”
- “Jump Start + Jazz”, 2 ballets by Wynton Marsalis
- «Programa Sondheim»
- «El tercer policia», with music by Django Bates.
- «Homenatges: Duke Ellington».
- “Porgy & Bess”, by George Gershwin.
- “Música Oberta”, with Vince Mendoza and John Abercrombie.
- “Company”, a musical by S. Sondheim directed by Calixto Bieito and Lluís Vidal.
- «Pandora» by Robert Gerhard.
- “Música Oberta”, with Dave Liebman.
- “Quatre moments d’un dia”, with music by Antoni-Olaf Sabater, Xavier Batllés, Lluís Vidal, and Joan Albert Amargós.
- ”Soundtrack”, directed by Manuel Huerga and Josep Pons.
- «Jump Star»+ «Jazz», ballets by Wynton Marsalis.
With Lluís Vidal's trio, they have performed as soloists with the Granada Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, including a tour interpreting Kurt Weill's music and accompanying Ana Belén and Miguel Ríos. They have also performed as soloists with the National Chamber Orchestra of Andorra and the "Andrés Segovia" Chamber Orchestra of Madrid.
He has collaborated with the Basque National Orchestra as a guest soloist at the San Sebastián Film Festival, conducted by Lalo Schifrin.
He has also collaborated with the metal quintet «Spanish Brass Luur Metalls», performing music by Frank Zappa, among other shows.
Among his freelance collaborations, he has worked with notable musicians such as John Abercrombie, Mulgrew Miller, Fred Hersch, Mark Feldman, Dave Douglas, Norma Winstone, Dave Liebman, Greg Osby, Ingrid Jensen, Donald Harrison, Dave Schnitter, Vince Mendoza, Guillermo Klein, Charles Tolliver, Art Farmer, Sonny Fortune, Ben Monder, Donald Brown, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Allan Skidmore, Gerard Presencer, Jesse Davis, Sal Nistico, Bill McHenry, Gary Willis, Steve Brown, Chris Cheek, Michael Kaupa, and more.
Since 2001, he has been a professor at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC), and in 2008, he became part of the faculty of the Conservatori Superior del Liceu.