Last year at the festival saxophonist Perico Sambeat received the Bird Award in the category ‘Talent Deserving Wider Recognition’. This prize includes that the winner is invited to return the next year with a band of his choice. The Valencia-born Sambeat studied classical flute at the conservatory of Barcelona. He continued his studies at the Taller de Músics school for jazz, where he studied harmony with Ze Eduardo. As a saxophonist he is an autodidact. In 1991 he moved to New York, where he had the chance to play with renowned musicians like Jimmy Cobb, Lee Konitz and Joe Chambers. Since then he travelled all over the world and played with Pat Metheny, Steve Lacy, Louis Bellson, Daniel Humair, Jimmy Owens, Fred Hersch, Bob Mintzer, Maria Schneider and many others.
