Press Kit

QUARTET

De La PuríssimaIts Julia de Castro (vocal and words) and Miguel Rodrigáñez (double bass and music) who conceive and shape this project, dramatically and musically. They are joined by two extraordinary musicians, Gonzalo Maestre (drums) and Jorge Vera (piano), thus forming a jazz quartet open to exploring new ranges and styles.

Innovation, a mix of genres, sense of humor, provocation of audiences and a carefully designed imagery, their identity traits take root both on and o� the stage.

Influences

Julia de Castro

The harmony is grounded on jazz, but we’re inspired by the women who led the theater scene in the early 20th century. Hence the controversial lyrics touching on taboos from that era, just like they did then.

The Bad Plus

Lilian de Celis

Robert Gordon

Bill Evans

Scott Lafaro

Raquel Meller

Eartha Kitt

Keith Jarret

Lana Del Rey

Mina

“

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Origin

De La Puríssima was formed in 2010 after Julia de Castro and Miguel Rodrigáñez met during a jam session. Chemistry sprouted as they improvised together. They then realized that aside from jazz, they had in common a passion for classical music and for a Spanish genre from early 20th century: the cuplé. They decided to create a project in which jazz could perfectly live together with elements of this Spanish folklore through a new sound.

Six years after Julia and Miguel’s first encounter, De La Puríssima has torn the boundaries of popular music and jazz, thus infusing the stage with forsaken sounds from a nearly extinct genre such as cuplé.

Their performances are described as “irrefutable”, “risqué”, “exquisite”. No two performances are the same, audiences will claim. The band has toured a wide range of festivals and cities in Spain and beyond, including Barcelona International Jazz Festival or the closing of San Isidro Fair in Madrid.

Madrid

Barcelona

Berlin

Manchester

Beijing

Shangai

Tunis

Tangier

Lorem

ipsum

dolor

sit

amet,

Virgen (album)

{ music }Julia de Castro and Miguel Rodrigáñez

{ words}Julia de Castro

{ recording and mixing }Andrés Vázquez,

Arco del Valle studio

{ production }Miguel Rodrigáñez y Julia de Castro

{ performance }Julia de Castro (vocals)

Miguel Rodrigáñez (double bass)Gonzalo Maestre (drums)

Juan Cruz Peñaloza (piano)

{ collaborators }Manuel Machado (trumpet), Martín

Bruhl (drums), Juan Pérez de Albania (cello), Gala Pérez Iniesta (violin), María

Teresa Olmedilla (viola), Bimba Bosé (vocals) and Diego Postigo (guitar).

Eleven contemporary cuplés, eleven di�erent men, eleven islands De La Puríssima visits, narrating a nocturnal journey. An ode to masculinity, to learning through men’s bodies seduced by a Spanish woman who refuses to abide by the rules outside the borders of her country.

This is a new musical concept from Spain, where the finest, most contemporary creations live with the naughtiest form of Spanish folklore. Among its eclectic list of followers are journalism legend Luis María Ansón, Almodovar’s Rossy de Palma, Miguel Ángel Silvestre and the renowned photographer Alberto García Alix.

Best Jazz Album - MIN Awards 2016 (nominated)

‘Chapero’ Top 20 Spanish songs 2015.

Selected for Red de Teatros (Theater Network) 2014-2016

The Quartet

This young pianist from Chile stands out for his ability to take on a variety of genres including folk, tango or jazz, in which he shows his passion for improvisation. At age 14, he replies Tito Francia as the musical director and pianist at the Carrera Hotel and a bit later he joins Horacio Saavedra in TV shows like Nace una Estrella (A Star is Born).

Since then, Jorge hasn’t stopped working with a diverse range of musicians and orchestras: Luis Salinas, Alain Perez, Viña del Mar International Orchestra, LeMonArt or Carlos Figueroa. His musical career in Spain is closely tied to De La Purissima but also with artists such as Pepe Santos, Paloma San Basilio, Jimmy Barnatan, Pepe Bao or María Carrasco.

Miguel Rodrigáñez{ double bass }

Author and master of the instrument, Miguel studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the P. Soler Conservatory in El Escorial. Since then he’s been in a whirlwind of top range collaborations with the likes of Jorge Drexler, Maria del Mar Bonet, Ara Malikian, Rocío Molina and Clara Montes. When he wasn’t involved with a Symphonic orchestra (Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid, ORTVE…), or a chamber one (Orquesta Andrés Segovia, Proyecto Guerrero), he was composing for artists like La Shica (where he obtained the Best New Author Award from the Academy of Music) or Selene Muñoz (Best Original Score, 22nd Spanish Dance Awards).

Aside from creating for De La Puríssima, he continues to collaborate with others like Selene Muñoz or Fetén Fetén.

Gonzalo Maestre{ drums }

Equal parts elegance and skill, Gonzalo has an extensive career in the jazz world. He’s played with the Filiú Cuartet, Julián Maeso Trio, Dead Capo, Natalia Calderón Cuarteto, Yoio Cuesta, or EMC Big Band, performing at prestigious domestic and international events such as the Viena Jazz Festival, Aichi Expo in Japan and Pop Kohln in Germany. He’s also toured in countries like Italy, Hungary, France or Ethiopia.

Gonzalo studied in Madrid and New York and since 1999, he’s been collaborating with artists like Pauline en la Playa, Marlango, and Najwa Nimri.

Julia de Castro{ vocals }

Singer, actress, composer, violinist.her unstoppable creativity and charming restlessness brought her to work with artists as diverse as Loquillo (Gira A Solas), Ana Morgade (“Las Rusas”), Bimba Bosé (“Antipasti”), Rubén Ochandiano (“Mucha Mierda”), Javier Giner (“Anatomía de una Criminal”), Rafael Villalobos (“Roma es amor al revés”) and painter Óscar Tusquets among many others, for projects for film, music, theater and TV.

Julia studies at RESAD in Madrid, Rose Bruford School in London and holds an Art History Degree from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Jorge Vera { pianist }

CollaborationsJosé Alfredo

In the summer of 2015, film director Eduardo Chapero-Jackson launched the videoclip for the song “José Alfredo”, co-starring Goya winning actress Bárbara Lennie.

Anatomía de unacriminal

Collaborations

In October 2015, the docu-fiction “Julia de Castro, De La Purissima: Anatomy of a Criminal”, directed by Javier Giner, premiered on Canal +.

De La Puríssima has shared stage and studio with musicians like Bimba Bosé, Diego Postigo (The Cabriolets) and knife-thrower Nacho Machos.

Instituto Cervantes

In 2016 begins collaboration with Instituto Cervantes.

Press

People leave wanting more.Risto Mejide - Al rincónAntena 3

“ ” Pure craftwork.Juan Pablo Silvestre - Mundo BabelRadio 3

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Passionate lyrics and heart-wrenching stories.Gregorio Belinchñon & Fernando NavarroEl País

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Virgen is eleven wonderful sins.Diego Bagnera XXL Semanal

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More than anything, it’s pure pleasure.Prado Campos El Confidencial

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It straddles cuplé and jazz in a superb way.Victor ParkasEl País

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Unique personality.Almudena ÁvalosS Moda

“ ” A powerful, tight and aesthetic proposal.Ana FolgueraMatador

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An intelligent jazz fusion.Lucía EscuderoHarper’s Bazaar

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Julia de Castro, the most provocative avant-garde artist in Madrid.LuisMaría AnsónEl Mundo

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What a beautiful voice.Javier GallegoRNE

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{ Booking and Management }

delapurissim@gmail.com

WWW.DELAPURISSIMA.COM

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