Sant Andreu Jazz Band

The Sant Andreu Jazz Band is a jazz orchestra founded by Joan Chamorro in the Sant Andreu neighborhood of Barcelona in 2006, with the aim of creating a space where young musicians could learn, grow, and express themselves through the language of jazz.

Their music combines elements of classic swing with more modern influences, creating a fresh and vibrant sound that has captivated audiences worldwide, with performances in countries such as France, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and the United States (Cincinnati), among many others. Over the years, they have shared the stage with renowned artists such as Scott Hamilton, Scott Robinson, Joe Magnarelli, Joel Frahm, Jon-Erik Kellso, Dick Oatts, Paul Nedzela, Jesse Davis, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, and Perico Sambeat, among many others.

In addition to their live performances, the band has recorded more than 60 albums, including 16 in the Jazzing collection (some double, triple, and quadruple) and 25 in the Joan Chamorro Presents collection, all of which have been very well received by critics and audiences alike. Their recordings showcase a wide range of jazz styles, from classic standards to original compositions. Their entire discography, as well as most of the videos recorded over the years, are available on this website.

Currently, the band consists of 21 young musicians between the ages of 13 and 21, although over its 20-year history, more than 90 children and young people have participated in the project. The Sant Andreu Jazz Band has produced musicians of the caliber of Andrea Motis, Rita Payés, Èlia Bastida, Joan Mar Sauqué, and Marc Martín, all of whom have established international careers.

This project has served as inspiration for similar initiatives in various parts of the world and has received numerous awards and accolades. Among them are:

2021 – Alícia Award for Educational Project, awarded by the Catalan Academy of Music.

2025 – Second prize at Essentially Ellington, in New York.

And this year, 2026, the Sant Andreu Jazz Band will receive the Gold Medal from the Barcelona Jazz Festival, and its director, Joan Chamorro, the Global Citizen Award, presented by Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, directed by Wynton Marsalis. March 2026