Daniel Casares: From a Cabin in the Woods

The Autonomous Region of Galicia, Spain has been slowly nurturing a strong jazz scene in recent decades. The extremely accomplished Abe Rábade (piano) and Paco Charlín (bass) crossed the Atlantic Ocean over two decades ago to study at the prestigious Berklee College Of Music in Boston. Upon their return to Galicia they established the "Seminario Permanente de Jazz" in the city of Pontevedra, a seminal institution in the popularization of jazz in the region. Through their network of relationships with American jazz musicians, they were able to foster collaborations between internationally renowned jazz figures and local residents. Within years remarkable Galician musicians such as Iago Fernández, Yago Vázquez, Xan Campos, or Naima Acuña emerged and began to gather national and international recognition, extending their reach beyond Europe and serving as an inspiration to younger musicians in Galicia.

Guitarist, composer, and producer Daniel Casares, from A Coruña, Spain (1995) began his musical journey through classic rock and blues in an intimate setting, eventually joining rock bands as a teenager. Following the footsteps of Rábade and Charlín he moved to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music, where he was introduced to jazz music, an event that would greatly impact the development of his career. He graduated with Summa Cum Laude Honors from the university in 2018, and he is nowadays the leading figure among the younger generation of Galician jazz musicians. Casares is already a veteran of the national scene, having performed alongside all musicians mentioned above in Galicia's main jazz venues, as well as participating in several prestigious festivals in Spain, Portugal, and India. His resume also includes concerts with internationally prestigious musicians such as Dave Holland, Terence Blanchard, Devin Daniels, Francesco Ciniglio, Lluc Casares, Gonzalo del Val, and many more. Casares is an innovative guitarist and a creative composer, pushing the boundaries of jazz in the search of true artistic expression.

In 2021 the guitarist launched his career as a recording artist, embodying a bold DIY ethos and becoming proficient on drums, saxophone, keyboard, and music production in addition to guitar and electric bass. His work has positioned him as a promising figure in the international jazz and experimental scenes, which led to him signing to the experimental Swiss label Hout Records. His music has been covered by major specialized press such as DownBeat Magazine, major press and media in Spain such as La Voz De Galicia, El Español, or RTVE (Spanish public national television and radio), and minor press and FM Radio internationally, including appearances on NPR and the hit WFMU experimental music show "Blurred and Obscured."

From a Cabin in the Woods is Casares' first full-length album for HOUT Records, where he brings avant-garde jazz, psychedelic folk, and '60s rock together into twelve experimental jazz compositions featuring an earthy sonority, rich textures, and probing improvisations.

The artist considers the work to be his most personal record to date, where he incorporates influences from a wide array of artists and genres that he explored across his musical life. There is an otherworldly quality to the album, achieved through simple yet colorful melodies and contemporary jazz chord progressions that are complemented by a vintage production style reminiscent of older recording equipment, obtaining an original and engaging outcome. Casares shows an inventive, care-free approach on the outing that chases authenticity over technical perfection, achieving a unique sound that is both experimental and enjoyable. Some tracks present lengthy guitar solos, while others find the artist exploring the EWI, synth and keyboard. The album travels through several instrumentations and styles, all rooted together by their connection to North-American popular music. The title makes reference to the studio Daniel works from in the countryside, a place where he has felt happy and comfortable to explore and create in recent times.

From a Cabin in the Woods contains dedications to some of the artist's biggest musical as well as personal inspirations, such as Madlib's Yesterday's New Quintet, Sun Ra, Warne Marsh, and his partner and family.