Genre:Jazz
Pioneering of the avant-garde fusion style in Argentina since the 80’s, PEDRO MENENDEZ is a restless creator and gifted multi-instrumentalist (Piano, Guitar, Flute, Soprano Sax, Bandoneon) with an unique style of blending South American roots, jazz and contemporary classical influences. Appearing multiple times in SXSW as well as music festivals across Argentina, Brasil, North America and most recently Taiwan, Pedro Menendez returns this year to feature a mix of his new work: “TANGENTES” and the CD "COLECCIONISMO-ANTHOLOGY": an eclectic latin concept where composition, polyrithmic propulsion and first-class improvisation converge.FULL BIO:PEDRO MENENDEZ was born in Buenos Aires in 1957.He has been dedicated to the music since he was 7 years old. He studied with professors like the worldwide known Oscar Aleman ( Josephine Baker's guitarist), Arturo Schneider (Astor Piazzolla´s flutist) and the contemporary classical guitarist Miguel Angel Girollet, among others. He also attended the composition career at the UCA.He has recorded 17 discographic works with compositions of his own and the participation of well-known musicians like Osvaldo Fattoruso on drums (latin jazz Band 'Opa'), Rodolfo Mederos & Marcelo Nissinman on bandoneon, percussionist Rubén Rada, musicians from the Colón Theatre orchestra, among others.Throughout his vast career he has lead as composer diverse ensembles performing on numerous distinguished cultural venues and festivals in Argentina, Brazil, US, Canada, China, Norway, Germany, Spain and France, including -among the most recent international tours: TOUR TAIPEI, TAIWAN (December 2014)
SXSW & JAZZ WINTER FESTIVAL (CMF) 2013
SXSW & JAZZ WINTER FESTIVAL (CMF) 2012
WORLD BEAT ONLINE’S “RUM & RIDDIMS” PARTY (Austin, TX, USA, March 2012)
DART MUSIC & HARRIS RADIO International Event (Austin, TX, USA, March 2012)
SXSW & CANADIAN MUSIC FEST 2011
SXSW 2010
BAFIM 2009 (Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 2009)
SXSW & CANADIAN MUSIC FEST 2009
DART MUSIC International Day & Night Shows (Austin, TX, March 2009)
BRAZIL MUSICA & ARTES + International Guests (Austin, TX, March 2009)
FESTIVAL DE INVERNO SESC RIO 2008 (Petrópolis, Teresópolis & Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, BRASIL)
SXSW 2008
Rhizome Collective International Show (Austin, TX, USA, March 2008)
KUT FM - Live Show (Austin, TX, US, March 2008)
As sessionist musician he has also been invited to perform with many distinguished musicians of the Argentinian scene, like Luis Salinas, Agustín Pereyra Lucena, Guillermo Reuter (2004 SGAE Award), Daniel 'Pipi' Piazzolla, Bossa N´Stones, Les Luthiers, etc. In the field of contemporary chamber music, he has written several pieces including a concert for Vibraphone and Strings dedicated to the Argentinian Soloist Daniel Serale (premiered on the International Percussion Festival of Patagonia, Argentina, 2006), a concert for Marimba dedicated to the Mexican well-known Soloist Javier Nandayapa, a work of 20 pieces for Piano based on Latin American rythmics (‘Viaje por Latinoamérica’/Voyage through Latin America’ Book I / Book II) and a concert for Guitar and Orchestra.He has composed many incidental music for publicity, television, theatre and cinema (Argentina and the Munich School of Cinema). Among his most recent works in this field, Pedro Menendez has been nominated as best composer for the 27th Mar del Plata International Film Festival under the Category Argentine Panorama (Film: "Santa Lucia / Saint Lucia").Since 1986 he is the Owner/Artistic Director of Contemporaneo Art Music, an Argentine Record Label dedicated to genres as tango, jazz, crossover, folk, world and contemporary classical music.