Basque. Playlist. #19 – Mikel Azpiroz

Born in San Sebastián, musician and composer Mikel Azpiroz Garmendia is known as a masterful pianist and keyboard player. His passion for music came at the tender age of six. He studied classical music at the conservatory, but soon felt the need to explore other genres, discovering his true artistic voice in jazz and blues.

Over the course of his career, he has been a member of groups such as Lau Behi and Elkano Browning Cream, as well as collaborating with prominent musicians including Jabi Muguruza. However, he has shown his most introspective and personal side as a solo artist. His solo debut, ‘Gaua’ (2013), is considered by many to be his most intimate work. Three years later, he released ‘Zuri’, an album that fuses blues with traditional Basque music and a touch of the avant-garde. In 2020, continuing this evolution, he released ‘Islak’, featuring a collaboration with drummer Karlos Aranzegi.

In his latest album, ‘Pake Pieza’ (2024), Azpiroz consolidates his style with a collection of nine compositions that invite introspection and meditation. Azpiroz´s music traverses diverse soundscapes without being confined to a single genre. His style, sophisticated and rich with nuance, combines impressionism, echoes of distant lands – including Basque lands – unexpected blues and subtle avant-garde influences, resulting in a unique and evocative musical language.