A musical journey that starts in Cornellà
Born in Cornellà de Llobregat in 1931, the pianist Pere Ferré has become an iconic figure in Catalan jazz, with a legacy that extends for more than seven decades. His training at the Barcelona Municipal Conservatory of Music marked the beginning of a career full of experiences, performing in emblematic rooms such as Saratoga and Embassy. At the age of 22, he took a two -year European tour with the Latin Quartet, a key moment that led him to replace the renowned Tete Montoliu.
A ritarnell de dimarts at the garden
At almost 94, Ferré kept his musical passion every Tuesday at the Giardinetto restaurant, a space where he has shared his music for three decades. Until the summer of 2024, he was also a regular of Jazzman, where every first Monday of the month attendees had the opportunity to choose the repertoire of a large catalog of 250 topics. “My memory houses more than 500 songs, but I have no written note,” he says with a smile.
The challenges of live jazz
Recently, Jazzman has stopped programming live performances due to conflicts with neighbors, a common problem that many small premises face as a refuge for musicians. Ferré regrets that institutions do not offer more support in these cases. “In my beginnings, there were more freedom and less regulations, although inspectors reviewed the rooms to make sure that the musicians were training,” he recalls.
The origins of the Jamboree
In the 60’s, Ferré and Tete Montoliu pioneered establishing a regular program of concerts in the Jamboree, sharing stage with prominent American musicians. Together with Francesc Burrull and others, he accompanied renowned artists such as the trumpeter Bill Coleman and the saxophonist Earle Warren. “The musicians we acted were few, so we often repeated in the same sessions,” he says.
Music and life: a personal balance
Despite his extensive career, Ferré has never lived exclusively on music. “Music has been a complementary part of my life as the owner of a trade,” he says. This duality has allowed him to interact with managers of international artists, who often presented him as an amateur musician. “He told them what songs he knew how to play and that’s how we ended up performing. And it was always a great experience!”
A legat that endures
With such a rich and diverse career, Pere Ferré represents not only a testament to the evolution of jazz in Catalonia, but also an example of how passion for music can survive adversity. Its story is a reminder that jazz, more than a musical genre, is a way of life that continues to inspire generations.
