The Oscar Peñas Jazz Quartet with Mivos Quartet at Aaron Davis Hall

Peñas epitomizes a new wave of talented artists who make up New York’s flourishing music scene. His compositions are eclectic, transcending, and merge different genres, cultures, and styles with fluidity, grace, and power. Described by WNYC as “transnational cool,” his sound is generally labeled as jazz, but crosses the boundaries of classical and modern music. His collaborative projects often feature instruments uncommon in jazz, such as the accordion and violin, and his compositions draw influence from new Spanish folk and Brazilian urban grooves.

In his hometown of Barcelona, Spain, Peñas trained in classical guitar before exploring the world of jazz. He has a passion for teaching, and he has led seminars, clinics, and master-classes in Colombia, Panama, Dominican Republic, and Spain. In addition, Peñas has been a recipient of the ASCAP Plus Award every year from 2012 to 2016.