Oscar Peñas has been playing the guitar for more than 25 years....

Oscar Peñas has been playing the guitar for more than 25 years. He began his career at the age of ten. In Barcelona, his native city, he studied both, classical and jazz guitar at the Taller de Músics and performed in various amateur groups. He studied under prestigious professors, Vicenç Solsona, Sean Leavitt, Horacio Fumero, Mario and Jorge Rossy among others. In 1997 he moved to the United States to study at Berklee College of Music where he graduated cum laude in 1999.

At Berklee he had the opportunity to study under the leadership of many great masters professors, among those were, Mick Goodrick, Jon Damian, Hal Crook, Luciana Souza and Ed Tomasi. Oscar returned to Spain in 2000, where he spent six years performingas a band leader and freelance musician in various Spanish jazz venues and festivals: Barcelona Jazz Festival, Mas I Mas Jazz Festival, Jamboree, Cova del Drac, Jazz Cava de Terrassa, Sunset, Be-bop, Bilbaina Jazz Club. In addition, he produced two records for the label Fresh Sound New Talent: “Astronautus” (2003), "The Return of Astronautus” (2006) and taught at his former school, Taller de Músics.

Back in, Boston, U.S.A. he obtained a Master in Music with honor at the New England Conservatory of Music in 2007. He studied under Danilo Pérez, Charlie Banacos, Brad Shepik and Frank Carlberg, to name a few. Based in Brooklyn NYC, he is now appearing solo, as a part of The BOB Trio and leading the Oscar Peñas Group.
Influences
Ralph Towner, Pat Metheny, Jarrett from the 70's, Kenny Wheeler, Weather Report, Milton Nascimento, Guinga, Frisell



Concert at Bargemusic on July 16 2009
Guitar and Compositions - Oscar Penas
Electric Bass - Motohito Fukushima
Percussion - Franco Pinna
Saxes - Dan Blake