Juan Saiz is a musician whose work moves between structure and spontaneity, tradition and experimentation. Rooted in jazz, his language reaches further, embracing classical influences, folk traditions and adventurous sound exploration.
His artistic journey draws on a wide range of influences. The spirit of John Coltrane and Thomas Chapin resonates in his approach to improvisation: an ongoing search for expression, spirituality and energy. His connection to his homeland is equally essential. The folk music of northern Spain, particularly the legacy of Lines Vejo, is part of his musical identity. His sound also draws on Olivier Messiaen’s harmonic richness, Béla Bartók’s ethnomusicological research and the freedom of contemporary jazz, coming together naturally.
He studied at ESMUC in Barcelona and the Royal Conservatory of Ghent in Belgium, and further developed his craft with musicians including David Liebman, Ron Blake, Jorge Pardo and Agustí Fernández. This training, together with his continuing desire to explore, has helped him develop a voice of his own.
Although composition is central to his work, Saiz is above all an improviser. Every concert is a living, unique experience. His music is never static or predictable: he approaches each performance as a new journey, an open dialogue in which form and chance intertwine. Whether leading his own projects or collaborating with other artists, he embraces risk, spontaneity and the raw beauty of the unexpected.
This outlook has brought him together on stage with international artists including Iva Bittová, Baldo Martínez, Terry Day and Bart Maris. He has performed at Jazzaldia in San Sebastián, Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, Madrid Jazz Festival, Südtirol Jazz Festival and Barcelona Jazz Festival, as well as venues such as Spain’s Auditorio Nacional and L’Auditori in Barcelona.
Across his releases as a leader, Saiz has explored many musical landscapes. His discography reflects a restless creative spirit:
His latest project, Tañedor, marks a return to his roots. It reinterprets the traditional music of northern Spain through a personal artistic vision, bringing ancestral sounds into dialogue with the present. Past and present, structure and freedom, composition and improvisation meet throughout the project.
Critics and audiences have recognised the boldness and originality of his work. His recordings have received international recognition: Pindio II was selected among the year’s best jazz albums by El País and as Album of the Month by The New York City Jazz Record.
For Juan Saiz, however, music is a process, a search and a conversation between musicians and listeners. His artistic journey continues to expand, open to new challenges, influences and ways of keeping music alive.
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