Lugar Comun

Daniel DIAZ Born in Buenos Aires , Argentina in 1963 , Daniel Díaz began playing bass in 1980. In 1983 he started to study theory, harmony, and bass and a year later he was working as a professional, backing several singers in small clubs around Buenos Aires. During the eighties he kept studying (harmony, counterpoint, ear training, etc.) attended to several courses and clinics such as: orchestration with Carlos Franzetti, Improvisation with Gary Burton, Production and Bass with Pedro Aznar, Tango History and Language with Horacio Salgán, and Argentine folkloric rhythms with "Cuchi" Leguizamon. In 1992 he travelled the U.S.A where he studied improvisation (with Bruce Gertz and Oscar Stagnaro at Berklee College of Music in Boston) and bass (with Mark Egan and Percy Jones in New York City and Alexis Skjlarevsky in LA.). In 1993 Daniel recorded his first album: "The Years Alone ", released in the US and Canada in January’1996 by North American label Green Linnet/Xenophile. The Years Alone's eleven songs combine traditional argentine rhythms like Zamba, Chacarera, Cueca, etc. with non-traditional structures and sounds inspired in rock, jazz, and classical styles. In that album Daniel Diaz played most of the parts (bass, keyboards, guitar, percussion, drums, etc.) but included guest appearances of many fine South American players. He continued this career as leader/composer with “Segundo Ciclo”(1997) released worldwide in 2002 by Timeless Records, Netherlands. Since 1997 he lives in Paris, France, where he’s been performing with several argentine-latin-jazz-tango groups, producing, recording and performing live. He’s now playing with tango group “CheTango” and French singer/composer Elise Caron. Bobby RANGELL Born in Chicago, USA, but raised in Colorado, Bobby Rangell started as a classical flutist, and discovered jazz at the age of 19. He continued to learn on his own the saxophone and the art of improvising. He began playing professionally one year later, touring the USA with soul and rhythm&blues bands as well as his own modern jazz combos. After moving to France in 1980, Bobby was quickly snatched up by French musicians. His group, the co-lead Bobby Rangell-Alain Berquez Quartet won the Concours des Jeunes Interpretes d’Ile de France , in 1983. The same year Bobby was awarded the soloist prize for saxophone at the Concours National de Jazz at La Defense. He played with almost all of the best young French musicians in various contexts. These included the groups of Antoine Hervé, Denis Badault, Laurent Cugny (with Gil Evans), and Claude Barthelemy (the National Jazz Orchestra 89-91). He also toured and played with Randy Brecker and Dave Liebman. At ease in all styles of music, Bobby has participated and been engaged professionally with world music and pop acts. (Angelique Kidjo, Pascal Lokua Kanza, Idrissa Diop, Ralph Tamar, Malavoi, Henri Guedon, Mario Canonge, Etienne M’Bappé, Alfredo Rodriguez, Orlando Poleo, Patato Valdez, etc. He has worked as well with blues and soul artists such as: Captain Mercier, Nina Simone, Lavelle and many American musicians touring Europe. He has done much sessions work: Nicole Croisille, Veronique Sanson, Jacques Dutronc, Malavoi, Henri Guedon, the Gipsy Kings, Danny Brillant amongst the many others. Presently he is leading his own group, the « Blood Donation » and playing with: Jean Jacques Milteau Quintet and Septet, the Paris Salsa All Strars, Pedreira Rencontre, the « Zappe Zappa » by Pierre Jean Gaucher, and Jean Louis Martinier’s « Confluences ». Go Up Javier ESTRELLA Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1963 to a family of musicians (his father a classical pianist, his mother a lyrical singer). He arrived in France in 1980 and started his studies of classical percussion at the National Conservatory of Boulogne-Billancourt and at the Ecole Nationale de Musique de Ville D’Avray (gold medal in percussion) with profesors Michel Cals, Jean-claude Tavernier, and Alain Beghin. At the same time he has studied drums with Daniel Pichon, Pierre Morlang and Jean-Luc Dayan. Possesing an open minded musical approach, he plays in many groups of different styles, ranging from chamber music and classical orchestras to jazz, latin, rock and flamenco bands. He has recorded and played with: J.J.Mosalini, Nilda Fernandez, Enzo Gieco, Gustavo Beytelmann, Malou, Bevinda, Sapho, J.C.Caceres, Enzo Enzo, Miguel Angel Estrella, and Che Tango.