Downbeat Magazine praised Gabriel Vicens, a Manhattan-based guitarist, composer and improviser who is “a thoughtful improviser with an easy tone who makes every note matter,” as one of the most sought-after guitarists on New York City’s jazz scene. Vicens is originally from Guaynabo in Puerto Rico. He moved to NYC following a five-year professorship at Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. A long list of composers and performers have mentored him, including Ray Anderson and Carlos Cabrer as well as Miguel Zenon and David Sanchez. Eddie Gomez, the legendary bassist, says Vicens is a “creative musician that displays an innovative vision on the guitar.” Vicens’ playing and compositions are influenced from many genres including jazz, rock, new-classical music, electronic music and Latin American folklore. Vicens has performed at festivals and venues such as the Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Fest and SF Jazz Center, San Francisco, Ljubljana Jazz Festival, Slovenia, Uno Jazz San Remo Festival, Italy, and Festival Havana World Music, Cuba. He is a frequent visitor to New York’s landmark venues, including The Cell Theater and Cornelia Street Cafe, Fat Cat, The Owl Music Parlor and Terraza 7. Along with Jonathan Suazo, an alto saxophonist, and Leonardo Osuna, he is part of the No Base Trio free improvisational collaboration group. Vicens has worked and performed with many artists, including Alex Sipiagin (pictured), Luis Perdomo (pictured), Miguel Zenon, Luis Perdomo (pictured), Paoli Mejias (pictured), Henry Cole, Joe Martin, Rudy Royston (pictured), among others. He has performed internationally in Slovenia, Italy and Puerto Rico. Vicens, a painter, is currently studying at the Art Students League of New York. He has shown his work in numerous venues around the city. Vicens was invited in 2018 to take part in the group exhibition Dislexia Geografica at The Clemente Soto Velez: Cultural and Educational Center, which featured a variety of Latin American artists. Vicens is currently painting and working on a project that involves creating music and making paintings from his music. Vicens has a Bachelor of Music from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico and a Master of Music from Queens College. He is currently studying for a Doctor of Music Arts degree at Stony Brook University. His two albums, Point In Time and Days, were critically acclaimed. He will be releasing his third album in Jan 2021. His upcoming album, entitled The Way We are Created will include compositions that are influenced by folklore music of Puerto Rico. It features saxophonist Roman Filiu and pianist Glenn Zaleski. Rick Rosato is the bassist. E.J. Victor Pablo, percussionist and Strickland. from http://innercirclemusic.com
