In 2019, London guitarist Chris Corcoran and Catalan saxophonist Dani Nilo teamed up with the elder musician Mike Sanchez for one of his tours. Despite having just met, their shared stage presence created an immediate connection. Fast forward five years, and they are now performing together from Monday to Sunday at the International Music Residency in the port of Girona. These days, the port has become a hub for Swing, R&B, and Rock and Roll. While the duo admits the schedule is “intense,” they relish the “amazing” opportunity like children.
“In the music world, due to the industry’s instability, we are always practicing to create recordings. It’s very difficult to find time,” explains Nilo, a native of Barcelona. “But here, you suddenly have the time to create.” In just two days since their arrival on Tuesday, the band had already composed four songs. On Saturday, they will present their work in a free-entry performance within the “Notes to the Garden” course.
The performance will be at 8 pm at Plaça de l’Om de Pont Major, promising a high-energy show. Attendees can expect the sounds of R&B, a typical American style, where both musicians find a “European way of doing things” and representing it. “Especially when you play musical instruments, because you have this identity and don’t need to sing,” Corcoran asserts. “Yes, we spend our lives listening to American music, but we make our own sound.”
During these days, they have adapted to a combination of saxophone (Nilo), guitar (Corcoran), drums (Anton Jarl), and organ (Victor Puertas). The harmonization between them creates a perfect blend, as Nilo describes it as a “tailor’s drawer of musical pieces and grooves.” The diverse background of rhythms they provide adds to the unique sound.
They believe it would be a “shame” if their time at the residency didn’t result in at least a mini-album. These new creations, performed at least twice more after the concert in Girona, are part of the “Notes to the Garden” course, which continues with shows in Tarragona (July 14) and Sant Feliu de Llobregat (July 15).
The materials they will present are not only of high quality but also “really new, fresh bread.” This is especially valuable considering the lengthy process between a song’s creation and its release on platforms or records, says Nilo. The desire to play runs deep in their veins, and Corcoran highlights the “element of improvisation” that ensures each gig is unique.
The experience has been beneficial for both musicians, who particularly appreciate the La Marfà Initiative – Music Creativity Center. “There are very few rooms in the country, and it is the middle class that suffers the most,” confirms Nilo, familiar with the landscape.
Chris Corcoran, on the other hand, can’t imagine anything like this back home in the UK. “It’s great to be part of the idea of helping musical and artistic creativity, which is very important,” the Briton comments. “If we had to make this material without the facilities in La Marfa, it would take months to achieve what we have now.”
