Ignasi Terraza piano · Ulf Wakenius guitar
Ulf Wakenius & Ignasi Terraza — Duo, Tradition, and Shared Mastery
Ulf Wakenius and Ignasi Terraza meet in the most intimate and demanding format of jazz: the duo. Guitar and piano converse with freedom and elegance, exploring standards, original compositions, and expansive spaces for improvisation, sustained by a complicity built on experience and mutual listening.
Ulf Wakenius is a key figure in European jazz, internationally recognized for his time as guitarist in Oscar Peterson’s final quartet and his work with the Ray Brown Trio. His language blends swing, lyricism, and a deep sense of groove, honed alongside some of the most influential musicians in modern jazz. Speaking to Jazz Guitar Today about the challenges that shaped him, he says: “Playing duo with Pat Metheny was a challenging and thrilling experience. Sharing the stage with Oscar Peterson or Ray Brown forces you to stay in the groove, and playing after a Michael Brecker solo is like stepping into the ring of fire.”
Ignasi Terraza is one of the most outstanding jazz pianists in Spain and a reference for both classical and modern jazz in Europe. Winner of the Jacksonville International Jazz Piano Competition in 2009 and with a discography exceeding sixty recordings, he has accompanied artists such as Frank Wess, Benny Golson, Lou Donaldson, and Jesse Davis. His style is rooted in tradition (with influences like Oscar Peterson and Ahmad Jamal) and stands out for its strong rhythmic pulse and expressive clarity. In an interview with The New Barcelona Post, Terraza says: “Barcelona has many musicians, but it lacks spaces. As long as there are musicians, there will be music.”
This encounter emphasizes direct communication between two established musicians, capable of transforming each piece into an open space for risk, nuance, and constant interaction.
Why you shouldn’t miss them?
Because this duo is a living jazz lesson: two masters sharing the stage, exploring swing and improvisation with depth, complicity, and immense expressive power.
