We met with Esther Ferrer and José Ramón Martín, by Matisse Club. Esther, executive director in charge of tasks such as administration, website and social networks. He, mainly as artistic director and programmer. They are management and music professionals who are part of a larger team whose purposes are clear: offer a stable platform where musicians of different types share their exquisite talent and good interpretive work. The room now has an improved stage design and great acoustics., The respectful and intimate atmosphere that is breathed multiplies the quality and seduces the public, whether you are a music lover or not. SERGIO BELLO
Jose Ramon, in the musical career, It is said that there must be equal parts passion and discipline. To run a room like Matisse Club, is it also like that? What rails does the renewed Matisse Club move on??
J.R.M.: ¡I like that you chose passion and discipline! Yeah, I believe that they are essential elements to be able to carry out projects as sacrificed as a musical career or a live music club.. Matisse Club was born as a result of the passion for music that great friends share., musicians and music lovers. The renovated Matisse Club offers concerts, jams sessions, monologues, fiestas, masterclasses and events of all kinds, from Tuesday to Sunday in the afternoon and evening; Therefore, discipline is fundamental and essential to be able to carry out the entire activity successfully.. In this sense I greatly thank Jordi Soriano (sound technician), Javier and Iñaki Muñoz (sala), and Ana Sanahuja (communication) the great effort made in this beginning of the journey. I don't want to stop naming my partners Esther Ferrer, Jorge Gimenez, Adrià Gracia, David Morales, Iñaki and Javier Muñoz, Juan and Elena Pechuan, Albert Sanz and Eduardo Marquina. without them, this project would not have been possible.
Jazz, classic, blues, tango… You are not closed to the various genres. The dissemination of your wide and rich programming, Does it also have to do with pedagogical work??
E.F.: The main objective of Matisse Club is to offer multidisciplinary and quality programming, to enrich the listener, in addition to providing an experience in which the public and artist share an intimate and direct moment. This is partly possible due to the cultural growth that Valencia has experienced in recent years., which allows us to have top-level artists in genres as diverse as early music, flamenco o reggae. On a pedagogical level, I would highlight the collaboration with the Yamaha school that holds a monthly audition in our club or the project of masterclasses and courses with international soloists.. In this sense our jams y evenings musicals are specially designed so that students of jazz and classical music have a place where they can begin to develop professionally, learn and have fun.
Besides, agreements with certain festivals during the year, and the support of prominent figures of the Valencian scene, I imagine that they are both impulse and commitment...
E.F. : Yeah, collaboration with some cycles and festivals such as GPS, San Miguel Music Explorer, Palau de la Música International Jazz Festival has been very important. Besides, We would like to thank the extraordinary artists who have performed at Matisse during this first stage for their support.: Peter Bernstein, Shai Maestro, Dan Barrett, Billy Hart, C. Fulton, J. Round, P. Sambeat, A. Sanz, J. Rossy, J. Vercher, V. Mendoza, V. García, V. Macian, M. Steimberg, I. Cebrian, A. Cesarini, R. Short, D Foster, S. Keogh, A. Bover, G. Lehavi, C. JoNene, S. Martínez, V. Pilatovic, J. Soler, R. Fibby, C. Dénia, V. Jiménez, F. Nathan, M. Baker, C. Romeo, A. Neckermann, J.C.. Matamoros, among others. They have allowed us to carve out a space among the best live music clubs in Valencia. On the other hand, We would like to make special mention of the collaboration of Adriá Gràcia, who contributed his own harpsichord to make our cycle possible Matisse in ancient key, as well as Juan and Elena Pechuán, Albert Sanz, Eduard Marquina and Jorge Giménezfor their fabulous artistic contribution, the best boost for Matisse Club.
Can you reveal any news or highlights in the new season's programming??
J.R.M.: The idea is to maintain our identity and try to continue growing in all directions. Classical music and jazz they will be protagonists again, and we will incorporate projects such as the complete Beethoven sonatas, Lied Cycle, Afro-American music series, Latin music series, Our first chamber music competition, the incorporation of the Café Teatro Circuit or family matinees so that the little ones can enjoy and learn from music... But the project that excites me the most and I think will have the greatest impact on the public will be Off Opera en Matisse. It's about making short operas, operettas or zarzuelas, on piano and with few characters. The first title will be Mahagonny Songspiel by Kurt Weill, which we are already working on.. The objective is to do more acting work, seeking realism to break the barrier that exists between the public and the artist when there is a long distance between them or a large pit. For this we will have the stage direction of Emilio López.
