
© Nicolas Masson
A life in rhythm
Alfons Bertran
I started studying drums and Afro-Cuban percussion at the age of 13 with Vicenç Soler, Quim Soler, Aldo Caviglia and Marc Miralta. I obtained a scholarship to study percussion, vibraphone and drums at the Liceu Conservatory in Barcelona with David Xirgu and Marc Miralta and at the same time I deepened my jazz studies with Ed Soph, Kirk Covington and Eddie Marshall.
Since 2004 I traveled regularly to New York to receive masterclasses from Adam Cruz (Chick Corea, David Sanchez...), Ari Hoenig (Kenny Werner), Franco Pinna, Gerald Cleaver, Henry Cole and the prestigious John Riley (Manhattan School of Music). I have also participated in seminars at the Zarautz and Julliard Muic School given by José Luís Quintana “Changuito”, Jordi Rossy, Elvin Jones, Ethan Iverson, Mark Turner, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Perico Sambeat, Terell Stafford, Carl Allen and Al Foster among others.
Although my main activity is in jazz and improvised music I have also worked on albums and concert tours with pop bands (Dusminguet, Miqui Puig ACP) and classical music (Johan Duijck, Cors del Palau de la Música or the organist Vicenç Prunés).
As a jazz musician I have shared the stage with a great variety of musicians from the local Barcelona scene such as David Soler, Roger Mas, Marcel Bagés, Marc Miralta, Àlex Martinez, Raúl Reverter, Jordi Pegenaute, Pep Pérez Cucurella, Joan Sanmartí, Elisabet Raspall, Carlos Bianchinni, and from the international scene such as Judy Niemack, Chris Cheek, Giovanni Guidi, Nicolas Masson or David Fettmann, to name a few.
Currently I combine my teaching and studio work with multiple jazz projects such as Pastrami's Quartet and Lite Bites Trio. I have recorded albums with my own projects such as Bridges Trio, Retina, Alfons Bertran Quintet and Alfons Bertran Trio.