Biel Ballester lead guitar, Fran Asensio rhythm guitar, Oriol González double bass.

Born in Mallorca in 1974, Biel Ballester is the best-known representative of the gypsy swing style – also known as manouche jazz – in Spain. In his prolific career, he has achieved a remarkable international reputation thanks to his musicality, a highly refined technique, the beauty of his compositions and, especially, a deeply original discourse, which draws on the tradition of Django Reinhardt but, at the same time, adds his own distinctly Mediterranean perfume. Self-taught – although he studied classical guitar at the Luthier school in Barcelona – Ballester has captivated some very highly-rated musicians in the manouche field, including Stochelo Rosenberg, Robin Nolan, Gustav Lundgren, Tim Kliphuis, Costel Nitescu and Christian Escoudé, as well as filmmaker Woody Allen, who chose two pieces from his repertoire for the soundtrack of the film ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ (2008). His discography includes titles such as ‘Echoes from Mallorca’ (2003) and ‘Bistró de Barcelona’ (2008), released by the prestigious Refined Records label, and ‘Live in London’ (2006), recorded at the legendary Le QuecumBar. He has also performed with his group at festivals including those at Marciac and Saint Gaudents (France), Gouvy (Belgium), Edinburgh, San Sebastián, Terrassa and L’Estartit. The Biel Ballester Trio is undoubtedly one of the outstanding shows this month at the Plaça Reial basement club.