Xavi Casellas vocals and lyrics · Jaume Vilaseca piano and keyboards · Dani Pérez guitar · Matías Míguez bass · Josep Cordobés drums
“Vocalese Voyage” is Xavier Casellas new recording project, currently in the process of being released, and represents a mature synthesis of his artistic universe. The album revolves around the concept of vocalese and a contemporary reinterpretation of vocal jazz, placing special emphasis on storytelling, lyrics, and interaction within the ensemble.
The project is presented in a quintet format, featuring a stable lineup with pianist Jaume Vilaseca, guitarist Dani Pérez, bassist Matías Míguez, and drummer Josep Cordobés. Together, they accompany Casellas through a repertoire in which the voice engages in an organic dialogue with the instrumentation.
In Vocalese Voyage, Casellas takes on the role of lyricist, writing words to originally instrumental compositions and thereby expanding the expressive possibilities of vocal jazz. The repertoire includes works by leading contemporary jazz artists such as Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Emilio Solla, among others.
The album is conceived as an artistic journey into the future, connecting tradition and the present day, and marking a significant step in Casellas’ most recent creative development.
Xavier Casellas is a Catalan jazz vocalist and creator based in Barcelona whose career has become firmly established within contemporary vocal jazz through a highly personal and narrative approach. A self-taught musician, he developed his vocal language through deep listening to the great classic jazz singers and through the study of twentieth-century orchestral and vocal repertoire, building an artistic identity centered on text, musicality, and storytelling.
Throughout his career, he has led his own projects and collaborated with leading figures of the jazz scene, including Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Emilio Solla, Ben Monder, and Romero Lubambo, naturally blending tradition and contemporary influences. His recordings have been released by internationally respected labels such as Fresh Sound Records, earning praise from specialized critics and helping establish his profile beyond the local scene.
His appearances at renowned venues and festivals, including the Barcelona Jazz Festival, Jamboree Jazz Club, Nova Jazz Cava in Terrassa, and internationally at Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Smalls, Zinc, and Mezzrow, among others, further reinforce a solid and coherent artistic trajectory.
