Jazz pianist, influenced by musicians like Oscar Peterson and Ahmad Jamal, among others, and with a background in European classical music. His personal style is full of virtuosity, swing, sensitivity, and personal expression.
Ignasi Terraza
Department of Jazz, Flamenco, Popular and Traditional Catalan Music
Terraza, blind since the age of nine, studied classical piano at the Conservatory of Barcelona while self-learning jazz. He also pursued Computer Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and became the first blind person in Spain to obtain this degree.
The following list is a selection from his discography.
- Festival Internacional de Jazz de Getxo (1991) - Mitchell-Terraza Quartet
- Shell Blues (1993) - Mitchell-Terraza Quartet
- Miaow! (1995) - Four Kats Jazz Quartet
- The Voice - The Romance of Jazz (1996) - Randy Greer
- Let Me Tell You Something (1999) - Ignasi Terraza Trio
- Jazz a les Fosques/Jazz en la oscuridad (1999) - Ignasi Terraza Trio
- September in the Rain (1999) - Barcelona Jazz Orchestra
- Night Sounds (2000) - Toni Solá & Ignasi Terraza Trio
- Christmas Swings in Barcelona (2003) - Randy Greer & Ignasi Terraza Trio
- IT’s Coming (2004)
- Confessin’ (2004) Oriol Romaní & Ignasi Terraza
- In a Sentimental Groove (2005) - Ignasi Terraza Trio
- Plaça Vella (2009) - Josep Maria Farràs & Ignasi Terraza Trio
- Swing appeal (2011) - Susana Sheiman & Ignasi Terraza Trio
- Swing Swing Swing! (2012) -
- Suit Miró (2013) - Ignasi Terraza Trio
- Around the Christmas Tree (Swit Records, 2020)
In 2005, he co-founded his own jazz-focused record label, Swit Records, along with Miriam Guardiola. The label combines the roles of a record label, with that of music promotion and management. Currently, the label has over thirty releases and a notable international presence.
2018: The 50th International Jazz Festival of Barcelona dedicates its Artist Portrait to him, with five concerts under his name presenting new projects. 2017: Premi Enderrock - Recognition for the 10 years of the Swit Records label.
2016: Jazzing Festival Jazz Award from Sant Andreu.
2016: Award from the 19th International Jazz Festival of San Javier.
2012: Best Jazz Album Award from Jaç magazine for the work "Live at The Living Room, Bangkok."
2009: First Prize in the Jacksonville International Jazz Piano Competition in the USA.
2007: Best Jazz Album Award from Jaç magazine for the work "The Black Key" in 2007.
2006: Best Jazz Album Award from Jaç magazine for the work "In a Sentimental Groove" in 2006.
2006: Altaveu Award for the album "In a Sentimental Groove" for bringing a unique, fresh, and Mediterranean identity to jazz.
2005: Best Performance Award at the Festival of Soto del Real (Madrid).
1998: Artistic Career Award from the Complutense University of Madrid.
1996: Best Jazz Album of the Year Award from Radio4 for the work "Miaow!".
1991: 1st Prize at the Getxo International Festival for Best Group.
At the age of eighteen, he began performing in clubs in Barcelona, either as a solo artist or with other musicians. Terraza spent several years dividing his time between his profession as an engineer and music, until he decided to dedicate himself fully to jazz in 1991.
Terraza has shown a preference for the trio formation, with which he has toured the main jazz festivals worldwide. He has also performed solo or with other ensembles, accompanying other artists, or as a pianist for big bands.
Some particularly notable collaborations of the musician include, on the one hand, with American guitarist David Mitchell (1990-1993), with whom he led the Mitchell-Terrassa Quartet, winning the Best Group Award at the Getxo International Festival in 1991. On the other hand, he collaborated with vibraphonist and drummer Oriol Bordas, on the ensembles Hot-Swing and Four Kats, and together, they founded the jazz label Swingfònic and the Barcelona Jazz Orquesta big band.
In 1999, Terraza premiered the show "Jazz a les fosques" at the Teatreneu theatre in Barcelona, offering the audience the experience of enjoying a jazz concert in total darkness. The show was such a success that it played daily for three months. Terraza repeated the experience in other venues, complementing the proposal with collaborations, such as the one with the theater group Àrea Tangent at the Grec Festival in 2008.
Since 2010, he has been a regular participant in projects led by Joan Chamorro, collaborating on numerous recordings with the Sant Andreu Jazz Band and productions like the series "Joan Chamorro presenta..." highlighting the more mature members of the SAJB. In 2010, he formed the quintet with singer and trumpeter Andrea Motis, along with Joan Chamorro, Josep Traver, and Esteve Pi. The group has been active until the present, undertaking international tours visiting over 40 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and America in the last five years. They have released 9 albums so far, with the last two under the Impulse and Verve labels, respectively.
Terraza has also composed music for theatre and television. Examples include the program "Una mà de contes," the movie "Ull per ull," the "contes sonors" for COM Ràdio, and the musical "El vestit de l’Emperador," which was performed during the 2008 and 2009 seasons at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and earned him a nomination for the Max Awards for Best Composer. In 2010, the movie "From Paris with love" featuring John Travolta included a track from his album with saxophonist Toni Solà, "Night Sounds", in the soundtrack.
Since 2003, he has combined his concert activity with teaching jazz piano at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya.