World-class musicians join Vicéns in his discographic debut, such as legendary bassist Eddie Gómez (Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Steve Gadd) and tenor saxophonist David Sánchez, both Grammy winners. He's also joined by sax player Jonathan Suazo (Paoli Mejias); pianist Eduardo Zayas (Charlie Sepulveda); Australian-born, New York-resident bassist Matt Clohesy (Seamus Blake, Alan Ferber, Jon Gordon) and Mexican-born drummer Vladimir Coronel. All of them are amongst the most sought-after musicians in the local jazz scene in Puerto Rico and New York.
"Gabriel Vicéns is a creative musician that displays a new vision on the guitar and in the music that he's written for his album "Point In Time""
- Eddie Gómez
All the tunes on the CD were penned by Gabriel Vicéns. “This record has a lot of energy, as well as a natural, pleasant melodic inclination”, says Vicéns. “It's in a ‘modern jazz’ vein, but at the same time it uses many elements from diverse musical genres. I think it's one of those records that should be listened from beginning to end, since all the themes follow a structured order”.
Gabriel Vicéns started seriously delving into music by the age of 14. His growing passion for jazz began at the age of 16, and just a year later he started playing in local clubs with some of the best local jazz musicians. After completing high school, he received an Outstanding Musicianship Award and a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music but instead he decided to go to the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico to complete a Jazz Performance Major in Jazz Guitar. As a student, he had the opportunity to play, learn, and grow friendships with Miguel Zenón, Eddie Gómez, Kenny Werner, David Sánchez, Jon Faddis, Bill Boris, Charlie Sepúlveda, Danilo Pérez, Luis Marín, Fernando Mattina and Paoli Mejías. In 2010 he graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Conservatory as the first jazz guitarist. “Point in Time” is his first album as a leader.
Album Liner Notes:
Gabriel Vicéns - Point In Time
Release Date: 03/01/2012
Personnel:
Gabriel Vicéns - guitar
Jonathan Suazo - alto sax
Eduardo Zayas - piano
Matt Clohesy - bass
Vladimir Coronel - drums
Featuring:
David Sánchez - tenor sax (tracks 5,6 and 12)
Eddie Gómez - bass (tracks 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11)
Music by Gabriel Vicéns
© 2012 Gabriel Vicéns.
Produced by Gabriel Vicéns
Recorded at Playbach Recording Studios, Puerto Rico (October 26, 2011 - December 5 and 23, 2011)
Recording and Mixing by Ramón Martinez and Carlos Velázquez.
Master by Eduardo Ramos
Photography: Ariana Loren
Cover Design: Miguel Vicéns
David Sánchez appears courtesy of Concord Records.
Press Quotes:
"Guitarist-composer Gabriel Vicéns, a leading light of Puerto Rico’s jazz scene, flaunts a modernist sensibility on his impressive debut as a leader"
Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes Magazine
"Gabriel Vicéns' Point In Time displays exceptional maturity in composition and performance. As the Puerto Rican guitarist thoughtfully develops each improvised solo, it's easy to forget this is his debut release"
James Rozzi, Jazziz Magazine
"Point In Time is a full-bodied debut record filled with bright moments, enchanting sounds and thrilling journeys. The Zeitgeist of modern jazz is exhibited through Vicens' work"
- Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz
"Puerto Rican guitarist Gabriel Vicéns shows signs of being one of the new aces of mainstream guitar"
"Vicéns’ resourceful, impressive view is such that the Collective We will want to experience anew"
- Mark Keresman, Jazz Inside Magazine
"Point in Time is as strong a debut record as any jazz guitarist could hope for. The tunes are well-written, the arrangements engaging and full of creativity and the performances are world class, everything one could want in a modern jazz record"
- Matt Warnock, Guitar International
"... to release a first solo record with an ensemble of that integrity is an achievement that can make proud any of the jazz heavies"
- Iouri Lnogradski, JAZZ.RU
"Point In Time is without a doubt a promising beginning in the career of this young talent"
- Wilbert Sostre, JazzTimes Magazine
"Es, simple y llanamente, el mejor debut discográfico que yo haya escuchado en mucho tiempo. Un disco que compite de tú a tú con cualquier producción reciente de alguno de los guitarristas del momento. Vibrante, variado, rico en matices"
- Ragui Vega Curri, El Nuevo Dia
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