Alfonso X el Sabio University (UAX), through its Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, is launching the first edition of the UAX Jazz Masters Series, a programme of educational events that will take place throughout the academic year and will bring students into contact with some of the leading figures on the international scene. Members of the university community and the wider public can book and purchase their tickets here: Advance booking is essential
Both events will transform the UAX Música Yehudi Menuhin Auditorium (located at Avenida del Comandante Franco, 10 Bis, 28016 Madrid) into a meeting point between jazz’s brightest stars and the future generations of artists who will dominate the music scene in the coming years.
The UAX Jazz Masters Series will kick off on Monday 17 November at 12.30 pm with Joe Sanders, who will lead the masterclass ‘The Art of Interaction: groove, space and collective expression’. The renowned double bassist will explore the keys to musical interaction in jazz, the use of sonic space and the construction of collective groove. Drawing on his international experience as a performer and composer, Sanders will also invite attendees to delve deeper into active listening, rhythmic communication and shared expression amongst musicians.
The legendary Cuban pianist and composer, Chucho Valdés, a seven-time Grammy Award winner and six-time Latin Grammy Award winner, will be at UAX on Tuesday 18 November at 6.30 pm for the masterclass ‘Performance and Communication in the Ensemble’. Regarded as one of the most influential figures in Latin jazz, he will share his artistic vision with students in a session dedicated to the fusion of contemporary jazz and Afro-Cuban roots. Drawing on his unique career and experience, Valdés will explore aspects of performance, rhythm, harmony and creativity, offering participants an immersion in his brilliant musical universe.
Through initiatives such as the UAX Jazz Masters Series, the UAX Faculty of Music and Performing Arts is consolidating its position as a leading centre for jazz in Spain, committed to providing an education of the highest standard, direct contact with leading international masters and the creation of unique opportunities for emerging talent to develop their full artistic potential. This is yet another example of UAX’s commitment to innovative education that is closely linked to the professional realities of the music industry.
