ABOUT
Spanish musician Manuel Borraz has emerged as one of the most divergent and original young artists of his generation. His extensive repertoire of personal projects reflects a multi-aesthetic point of view and a deep understanding of music and its creative freedom.
Born in Madrid in 1994, Borraz is a composer, pianist, and producer who was trained by some of the most outstanding artists in Europe, such as Anton Kernjak, Ken Zuckerman, Claudio Martinez Mehner, Ferenc Rados, Lester Menezes, Malcolm Braff, and Fred Frith, during his studies at the prestigious FHNW Basel university in Switzerland.
Manuel Borraz has demonstrated his versatility as a performer on various renowned stages worldwide, such as the Shanghai Concert Hall, the International Festival Shenzhen, Festival Jazz Madrid, Auditorio Conde Duque, Attaca Festival, ZeitRäume, Klang Basel, the Kirsten Kiaers Museum, and the Copenhagen Konzertkirkchen, among others and has won piano competitions as the ¨XXV Jacinto Guerrero¨ and ¨XIV Veguellina de Órbigo¨. As a composer, he has premiered his works on RNE and has been commissioned by different chamber music groups to create original music and film scores.
Manuel Borraz does not limit himself to a single musical genre but explores jazz, classical music and contemporary music and has also ventured into rock, electronica, free music, and even indian music and baroque improvisation. For him, all these influences coexist as part of his musical universe.
The music of Manuel Borraz results from complex musical structures underlying irregular melodic phrases that derive in harmonic and extended techniques, combining the Western repertoire with of the contemporary music scene.
Manuel Borraz is one of the most promising young talents in the Spanish music scene, and his unique and versatile style makes him worthy of being closely followed by music enthusiasts worldwide.
VIDEOS
TEACHING
Manuel Borraz’s passion and vocation for music are evident in his commitment to teaching. Several years ago, he discovered his interest in education and decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Pedagogy at FHNW in Basel, Switzerland. As a music teacher, he offers his students not only a helping hand but also dedication, sensitivity, and a wealth of pedagogical and performance resources.
Manuel Borraz’s expertise as a music teacher is reflected in his extensive teaching experience. He has taught at various institutions, including:
- MS Rheinfelden – 2015
- MS Kaiseraugust – 2015/2016
- MS Basel – 2017
- EPMD – 2018/2023
- International College Spain Nord Anglia – 2022/2023
DISCOGRAPHY
PROJECTS
MANUEL BORRAZ QUARTET
After touring Europe and Asia with musical projects of various kinds and receiving artistic inspiration from different places and atmospheres, Manuel Borraz returns to Spain and creates a personal and unique jazz born from his background, an artistic past that ranges between different genres and whose training includes different languages and ways of seeing and expressing art, from classical music to free improvisation.
The compositional unpredictability surprises and radiates originality in a framework where each musician flows and brings his skill from the best of the places he knows, moving as a unit in a sound universe of his own. This project branches out from contemporary jazz and brings together twelve themes, mixing tradition, irregular rhythms, extended harmonies …
DUAL REALITY BAND
Manuel Borraz and Daniel Sáenz are musical visionaries with an innate curiosity for innovative sounds. They expertly blend an eclectic mix of genres, colors, and emotions, including rock, jazz, free music, and electronic music. Their creative process is fueled by an unbridled sense of artistic freedom and energy that permeates their work.
The critically acclaimed Dual Reality has performed to enthusiastic audiences in numerous venues throughout the country and is currently preparing for an upcoming tour to showcase their latest album.
At Condeduque and Jazzmadrid, Manuel Borraz and Dual Reality will unveil new tracks that push the boundaries of contemporary jazz. These groundbreaking compositions incorporate a wide range of electronic elements, including synthesizers, NordStage digital tools, analog equipment, samplers launched from DAWs, triggers, pedals, and more. The rhythm section provides a supportive foundation for the ensemble’s improvisational and creative exploration, adding a dynamic and engaging layer to their music.
ANLAUF DUO
Founded in 2015 with saxophonist Pablo González Balaguer, and after establishing a deep friendship in Basel (Switzerland), Anlauf Duo have sought in chamber music the way to express and understand themselves
Together they have received the advice of András Keller, Claudio Martínez Mehner, Anton Kernjak, Filippo Gamba, Marcus Weiss, Alfred Zimmerlin and Fred Frith.
As a duo they have offered recitals and tours in Spain, Switzerland, Germany and China. Specifically in China, they were invited in 2016 to the “I Shenzhen International Saxophone Festival” with recitals in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shanghai. They have also participated at Mimiko Festival, Klang Basel and have played for Spanish radio and Swiss radio.
Anlauf Duo has the support of official foundations, both Spanish and International. The most important are the “Swiss Foundation for Young Musicians”, CulturArts and Clásicos en Ruta, a foundation that scheduled a tour in Spain in 2018 which took place in Mérida, Pamplona, Ciudad Real, Alcalá de Henares, Lugo and Cádiz.
BORRAZ/PALLARÉS
Artistic company created in 2018 in Basel, Switzerland, and essentially constituted by Manuel Borraz Monasterio (prepared piano and different objects) and Jordi Pallarés Barberà (drums, percussions and toys). Imbued by mainstreams such as John Cage’s “Chance Music” and the abstract expressionism “Action Painting” by Jackson Pollock, this association arises with the aim of discovering, deepening and exploring an aural experience that has sound exploration as its connecting thread. The program merges the members’ background (from classical tradition, jazz to popular music) with the search for a hyperaesthetic union. This one is musicalized in a tentative process of contemporary avant-garde that has clear preponderance to free improvisation. Performing silence, expressive “dramaturgy” crossing the limits of tonality, gestural stanza, as well as the motivation to add their creative resources plus momentarily unearthing new ones, is part of a holistic event that is subtly and symbiotically pulverized with the listener. As a group they have performed mainly in Switzerland, for instance participating in the Swiss Foundation For Young Musicians.
O.|TAP DUO
Formed in 2021 by pianists Carlos Marin and Manuel Borraz.
From impresionism to minimalism through the big influence that had in both aestetichs (and composers) the improvisation. The program explores the connection that arises and follows from one style to his neighbour with the addition of very great and well known pieces of Spanish classical music which belong and take part to that evolution and historial moment.
The duo improvises over some pieces and performs in a concrete and creative order.
O.|TAP DUO is based between Amsterdam and Basel. This duo explores the limits between classical and contemporary music and improvised music, through contemporary compositions and modern music. The communication, respect of the score and interaction between both players gets to be the main focus of a program full of colors. Each players brings to the performance a unique approach that creates an atmosphere that result in a recital where the connection and respect of the music and the interpreter coexist and belongs.
In the last recitals they were playing pieces from Maurice Ravel to Isaac Albeniz and Steve Reich always taking care of the aesthetics and using improvisation.
VRYZAS/BORRAZ
Vryzas/Borraz duo was born in 2020. The two improvisers met in their master studies at the Musik Akademie in Basel working with Fred Frith and Alfred Zimmerlin. Since then they have collaborated in various occasions and projects (Festivals, Performances, Concerts, Workshops). Manuel Borraz and Dimos Vryzas, during a residency of theirs at Stress.Studio in Athens (June 2021) recorded their first album entitled “Observe”, a work that reflects their similar way of relating and exploring sound in music. With a creative approach, both players immerse themselves into an improvisation that allows them to be present, listening and expressing freely, observing and exploring the limitations of their instruments along with new objects/toys to finally bring their musical backgrounds together into a free, sensitive, unconventional, alive and unpredictable album.
PIANO SOLO PROJECT
Manuel Borraz has been playing piano solo recitals for twenty years. Now he has developed a performance that includes his own compositions, plus many other music that covers the spectrum of classical music, jazz and contemporary improvisation.
For three years he has been giving recitals of that kind where he explores every time a new and exciting approach in Festivals as ZeitRäume Festival, Klang Basel Festival, and other places.
Manuel has toured Europe and Asia, playing at Shanghai Concert Hall, International Festival Shenzhen and Goungzhou in China, Kirsten Kiaers Museum and Copenhagen Konzertkirkchen in Denmark, Klang Basel, ZeitRäume, Attaca and Mimiko Festival in Switzerland, Fernando Fernan Gomez, Auditorio Nacional , Sala Berlanga, Clamores, Bogui Jazz, Galileo Galilei, Madrid Jazz Festival, etc, playing programs that include his own compositions, classical music, contemporary music, jazz and free improvisation.
INTERVIEWS | REVIEWS
Manuel Borraz frequently conducts interviews and writes concert reviews for In&Out Jazz, an international renown blog designed for jazz enthusiasts, having the opportunity to converse with true legends of the music industry, providing readers with insightful and engaging content.
CONTACT
Manuel will be happy to know from you. Please contact him sending an email, calling or filling the form below.
E-mail: manuelborrazmonasterio@gmail.com
Phone: (+34) 617632011
Manuel Borraz 