
It was in front of the sea where they got together to start Quartet Vela. They were in their early twenties and were strolling along the dock of the port of Barcelona on one of the last sunny mornings of autumn. Since then, Quartet Vela has offered concerts in several places in Europe: Catalonia, Denmark, the Balearic Islands, Germany, Italy... Many times, from their vantage point, they were facing the sea; and their desire was always to continually expand the saxophone quartet repertoire.
In Vistes al mar (Gazing at the sea), their first album, Quartet Vela invites us to traverse an ocean that they have not crossed thus far, the Atlantic, through eight works that an ensemble like theirs has rarely or never recorded. This journey, warm and encompassing, shows us how two territories so intimately linked by their respective histories sound, such as the Catalan-speaking lands and Chile - both kissed by the sea in land and culture. What music identifies them? How do the popular melodies of these cultures sound? What is composed and being composed at this moment in time? This album that you hold in your hands demonstrates the insurmountable versatility that a saxophone quartet can exhibit and it is dedicated to all the people who find their hearts drawn towards more than one land.
Laia Seró