Emilio Solla - Pianist, composer, arranger
Grammy Nominee Argentina born and NY based pianist & composer Emilio Solla got his degree in Classical Piano at the National Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires and his MA in Jazz Composition at Queens College in New York.
Solla has released 7 albums as a leader and more than 40 as producer/arranger and is considered one of the most outstanding voices worldwide in the New Tango-Jazz stream. He has performed all around Europe, Japan, the US and Latin America to outstanding reviews in many of the most important Jazz houses and Festivals.
He has composed for, arranged for and performed with Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo O’Farrill, Edmar Castañeda, Pablo Aslan, Cristina Pato and many others.
His last album, Second Half was nominated for a 2015 Grammy Award as Best Latin Jazz Album. In November 2014 Solla’s first symphonic work had its US Premier at the Chicago Symphony Hall by the Chicago Sinfonietta and a new work, Nandú, has been chosen by the ACO to be premiered by Buffalo Symphony in September 2016. This year will also take him back to Buenos Aires for the World Premiere of the orchestral version of his Suite Piazzollana.
"Four Stars. A lavish, assured set that speaks volumes about Solla’s accrued wisdom" Downbeat, March 2015
"Second Half is a home run. It easily ranks among the best of 2014" AllAboutJazz
"The virile throb of Astor Piazzolla's nuevo tango was omnipresent in the pianist Emilio Solla's stately pulse..."New York Times
"One of the most talented Argentine pianists" (Página 12, Buenos Aires)
"Not to be missed" Lausanne Cites, Switzerland
"The most special concert in all club history…moments of incredible beauty…" Gotland News, Sweden
"A contemporary musician that marks everything he does with his own seal" (La Vanguardia, Spain)
Hakon Skogstad - PianIST, COMPOSER
Håkon Skogstad (born 1989) is a critically acclaimed and prize-awarded pianist from Norway specializing in classical music and argentine tango. He is a soloist, chamber musician, teacher and composer and has played concerts in Argentina, USA, Germany, Sweden, Austria and England as well as concerts all over Norway. He holds a Master’s degree in classical performance from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway and Manhattan School of Music in New York. He is currently enrolled in The Norwegian Artistic Research Program undertaking third cycle artistic research.
As a tango musician he has played numerous concerts and recorded several critically acclaimed albums in groups such as Tangueros del Norte, Tango Ensillado and Los Osos Polares. Through his groups he has taken lessons as well as played concerts with over a dozen of the greatest tango musicians in the world including J.J. Mosalini, “Cholo” Montironi, Cristian Zárate, Leonardo Sanchez, Pablo Ziegler, Osvaldo Montes, Marcos Madrigal, Mauricio Marcelli, Roberto Tormo, Per Arne Glorvigen and Horiacio Cabarcos.
Skogstad is also an experienced arranger/composer and his entire debut solo album Two Hands to Tango feature original compositions and arrangements.