jazz guitarist, composer

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: My collection of original pieces that I’m recording as singles. Since I have many songs and compositions, this way I can release them little by little.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: price...and time, and technical issues like how many musicians can record at the same time?, what kind of instruments? etc...

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: I haven’t encountered any situation yet… but knowing human beings a bit, the most important thing is to try to clarify everything from the beginning; that way it becomes easier to resolve any misunderstanding.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Any question that can help me carry out the project as faithfully as possible to what the client has in mind.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: To be honest, patient, and to have their ideas as clear as possible, and not hesitate to ask whatever they need in order to feel comfortable with the final result.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I'm a profesional musician since 1987. Professional short resum Self-taught musician. He is known in the international scene for his esthetical flexibility that covers styles as unalike as gypsy jazz, free jazz, Avantgarde, jazz fusion, Bebop, classical music, contemporary and electroacoustic music, mostly XX century styles. Even being self-taught he has studied temporarily only on two occasions with great teachers like Gabriel Breznic (Chile) with whom he studied classical harmony in intensive course of three months and in Mexico with Victor Rasgado whom he studied serialism, Twelve-tone technique—also known as dodecaphony, Olivier Messiaen language, pitch class techniques, Bach Canon inverted for XX century composition. Currently, his work as a composer exceeds the amount of 1300 registered compositions at the SGAE, (Sociedad General de Autores de España) among Jazz music and classical music. He is also currently active as a music producer, with his own recording studio and as a consultant-engraver for music publishing companies, schools, etc. Right now he is publishing his own works with 3 publishing Co. From Catalonia Clivis publication and La Ma de guido and from Denmark Bergmann Edition. RELEVANT TRAJECTORY In 1989 his first LP "Coincidencias" was nominated for best album of the year by Nacional-Radio 4 en España being probably one of the jazz albums more broadcasted by radio in Catalonia (twice daily for 2 years). In Spring 1992, records with Bill Gerhardt Quartet his first CD “Metanoic” in Hilversum (The Netherlands). This album was selected best record of the month and one of the top 12 of the year by the JAZZ SOUTH ART FEDERATION (USA). It was broadcasted all around the U.S.A. His second CD, "Particular Vernacular", was recorded during February 1994 in New York City with his partner Bill Gerhardt on the piano and invited artists invitados like Jeff Ballard, drums, Ben Allison, Dave Douglas, trumpet and Dave Liebman, sax. In 2000 year travels to Mexico for his world premiere String Quartet nº 2 by “Mexico City String Quartet”. In 2006 he was dedicated chapter on John Engel ’Uncommon Sound", the ultimate book about left handed guitarists that change the music, along with standing artists like: Albert King, Jimi Hendrix and Paul McCartney. The book highlights him as one of the most relevant left handed guitarists of all guitar history. In 2009 there is a World premiere of his composition "Triumphant" in the Palacio de Congresos in Jaca, Huesca, Spain, during the International Mathematical Conference "LIBGOBER" (Topology of Algebraic Varieties). In 2012 records the show “Fusió i swing a l ‘estudi” on Catalan Television (TV3) with his Pere Soto Gypy Project. (http://www.ccma.cat/tv3/alacarta/fusio-i-swing-a-lestudi/pere-soto-gypsy-project/video/4549912/) In 2013, important concert in the top European jazz event BIM-HUIS in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. IN 2017, Main composer in the Soundtrack of Juan Carlos Fanconi’s movie “A place in the Caribbean”. (Honduras-USA) (HBO MOVIE) IN 2018 Resident artist at KU, and Masterclass at the University of Kansas, USA. Classical Works, 190 compositions. Solo instrument, duets, trios, quartets, chamber, concertos, Symphonic works, others. Jazz Works (including songs of other styles) 1078 compositions. Arrangements (combos, Big Band) 28 works Commercial music (music for images) under Pietro Sotil name, 28 works. In his life has been teaching at several Music School; Microfusa, Barcelona. Teaching Midi and Music Theory. Taller de Musics, Barcelona. (Teaching guitar). Adagio Academy, Barcelona teaching notation software and Midi. Tijuana Music School, (Mexico) Teaching guitar, Film scoring. And others. Pere has played with; John Engels, Arjen Gorter, Han Beninck, Dave Douglas, Tom Cora, Niko Langenhuisen, Evan Tate, Lou Donaldson, Jordi Rossy, Mario Rossy, Perico Sambeat, Sean Bergin, Jeff Ballard, Marc Miralta, Ben Allison, Bill Gerhardt, Joe Malinga, Joe Gallivan, Tony Moore, Roberto Lecaros, Mario Lecaros, Fay Victor, Carla Cook, David Xirgu, Alex Coke, Clare Foster, Ray Appleton, Clarence Becton, Joris Teepe, Jos Machtel, Dave Liebman, Lonnie Smith, Walter Lampe, Remy Alvarez, Ken Basman, Tyler Mitchell etc. Some Festivals and concerts; SPAIN -Jazz Festival Terrassa 82-84-86-92 "as headliners)" -4 Mostra de Jazz Europeu (Barcelona) -Special TV concert (TV3) in the Ancient Monastery of St. Cugat -Jazz Festival Jazz en la costa (Fay Victor & Bill Gerhardt & Pere Soto) -Jazz Festival Palencia.95 -Festival de Jazz Tàrrega 1996 (Djangos Castle) -Menorca Jazz Festival 2001 -Lugo Jazz Festival 2003 -Jazz a Castelló 2004 AUSTRIA -St Johan Tirol Jazz Festival (Joe Malinga Sudafrican band) HOLLAND -Jazz Festival Eindhoven 90 (Tom Cora-Niko Langenhuisen-Pere Soto) -Bim Huis februari'93 (Pere Soto & Bill Gerhardt quartet) -Bim Huis februari'15 (Pere Soto trio) -North Sea Jazz Festival 1999 (with Big John patton) BELGIUM The Botanic cultural center april 96 LUXEMBURG Den Atelier Jazzclubluxembourg ENGLAND -Birmingham Jazz Festival 2001,2002,2003,2004 -Sutton Acoustic guitar Club, Sutton Coldfield -Warwick Festival 2004 ANDORRA SuperVocalMeeting 1996 a l'Auditori, USA -Jazz Festival Charlotte 92 NC Jazz Club Visiones august 95 (N. York), Pearl’s Jazz Club, (San Francisco) The Mouskoni Center (San Francisco), Watertown festival 2004, NY, Diana Wortham Theatre, (Asheville), NC 2004, CentralMarket, Austin TX, with Alex Coke Quintet, Live concert-interview at Radio KMHD, Portland, Oregon. En el 2008 aparece en dos de los festivales de gypsy jazz mas importantes de USA, San Francisco DjangoFest y Los Angeles Djangofest. MEXICO - En el 2016 Concierto en el Lunario del Auditorio Nacional de la Ciudad de México. - En el 2016 Concierto-producción pelicula documental Pere @ Soto en el Mogor (Ensenada, México) Equipo Pere Soto Guitarras; Gibson Les paul de luxe del ’77, Steinberger, Ovation Classic, Martin 12 cuerdas, Una picado manouche, una gypsy Jacques Favino del ’77, I varias guitarras clásicas. Amplificadores, marshall, fender, Vox, roland, etc. DISCOGRAFÍA COMO LÍDER • Pere Soto Jazz Group (DLR 713-¬‐C La Raiz prd.) • Pere Soto Grup "Coincidencias" (1989 -¬‐ LP BM-¬‐002 Berman Int.) • Pere Soto & Bill Gerhardt Quartet "Metanoic" ( 1992 -¬‐ CD 85012-¬‐2 Riff) • Pere Soto & Bill Gerhardt Quartet "Particular Venacular" (Planet X New York) • Django's Castle "Nuages" (2001 -¬‐ Satchmo) • Django's Castle "Prisoners of Love" (2002 -¬‐ Imagen) • Pere Soto & Django's Castle "El Caliqueño del Califa" (Taller de músics 2004) • Django's Castle "Blue Drag" (Satchmo 2006) • Pere Soto & Django's Castle "Swing Gitane" (Blau records 2007) • Pere Soto & David Valdez "Oasis" (Diatic records 2009) (USA) • Pere Soto & Remi Alvarez “Remisotopos” (Intolerancia records (2009) México • Pere Soto & Josep Traver “Duets manouche" (2010) self edition • Django’s Castle with Bruce Adams “Swing Hotel du Vin” (Big Bear Records 2010) England • Pere Soto & Django's Castle "3 mamuts a Liliput" (2011) • Cosmic Goulash Discordian records (2014) • Pere Soto amb amics Arts Harmonica (2014) • Pere Soto & Galaxian Swingers (only digital format 2016) • Pere Soto & Pep lluís Guardiola Fusió Arts Harmonica (2016) • Pere Soto & Ken Basman Standards in San Miguel de Allende (only digital format 2016) • Patricia Teles & Pere Soto "Natural" (only digital format 2017) • Chamber Free music “Chamber" (only digital format 2017) • Pere Soto & Josep Traver “Still Here” (Temps Record 2019) • Pere Soto “Ballads" (only digital format 2019) • Pere Soto “Gypsy Jazz 2018” (℗2018 Independent / ©2018 Pere Soto / UPC: 812264030569) (only digital format 2019) • Pere Soto trio “Sailing" (only digital format 2019)

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Jazz, brasilian, Classical ensambles.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: life and power

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: First, I need to understand the project and wait until I can visualize it, and only then analyze the best way to approach it. But above all, in the field of composition it is one kind of process, while in the field of production it is another. Each style has its own parameters and variables, which lead to its own distinct path.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My gear; Apple computers; MacBook Pro and Mac Mini using Software Logic Pro and Sibelius, and some others. Preamps: Neve Portico 5012, RME Octamic II, Channel Strip Presonus ADl 700, 1 Gold mike, 2 Symetrix interface: RME Fireface 800, Presonus (firepod) 8 channels, studio speakers; Genelec M040 microphones; 1 Shure KSM32, 3 Shure 58, 1 Shure PDKM7-A, 4 Shure PDKM7-B, 2 Shure PDKM7-C 2 Newman KM184 (stereo pack), 2 Newman 149, 1 Newman U87, 2 Cascade Ribbon FAT HEAD, 2 MXL 990 2 MXL 991, 1 MXL Ribbon R144 guitar & bass amps: Vox, Marshall, Peavey Vib-2, Roland AC60, Fender Acoustasonic, Fender Bass Rumble 40 auriculares AKG, Audio Technica superlux DIGITAL REVERB lexicon, Altiverb, HOFA, Izotope, Valhalla, etc. Keyboards Roland K49 midi controller Guitars acustic nylon guitar Cordoba Bajo electroacústico Breadlove Steinberg electric left Picado gypsyjazz (model Pere Soto) efectos Pedales guitarra Distorsion DS-1 Boss Super Chorus CH-1 Boss Chromatic Tuner TU-3 Boss Wah way Cry baby pedal expression DL4 modeler RAT

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: So many, ECM recordings, Pat Metheny music, Brasilian top artists,

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Preparing an Spanish Tour march 2026, promoting my Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Bobby Fisher, finishing mixing a serie of singles of original tunes.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: not yet....

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: In my opinion, it doesn’t matter whether it’s analog or digital, because the most important thing is the content. The message delivered to the listener through music doesn’t depend on the format it comes from, but on what it conveys.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I promise to do my best to come as close as possible to the client’s wishes. That’s why I always ask for as much information as possible about the client’s concept, so I can understand what they have in mind as accurately as possible.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Making music and enjoying, at the end of the process, having created it.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: acoustic guitar, a pencil, some music paper, a set of guitar strings, bottle of water.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I don’t think I have a “style” of my own, but rather a personal language as a performer and as a composer. I believe this comes from the decisions I make during the creative process, since I always rely on my intuitive sense, which guides me toward the best way to balance the results—sometimes familiar, but often yet to be discovered. Only in this way can one develop a certain creative personality that goes beyond simply copying what others have already established. In fact, working by copying other people’s techniques is just another way of approaching the craft.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Anyone who has a clear idea of what they truly want to find and what makes them feel fulfilled.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Each element in a mix must be heard clearly, without interfering with or muddying other elements.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Guitar and composing...

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Guitar recordings using Nylon guitar, gypsy jazz guitar, and Jazz guitar.