Andrea Motis recorded her first album of jazz standards in 2010 at the age of fifteen, launching a professional trajectory that spans roles as a composer, singer, trumpeter, and saxophonist. A native of Barcelona, she performs in four languages, navigating a contemporary jazz landscape that integrates traditional instrumentation with diverse global influences and modern collaborative projects.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1995, Motis spent her formative years at the Municipal School of Music of San Andreu in Barcelona. Her academic background includes studies at the IEA Oriol Martorell and the Catalonia College of Music. In 2007, she joined the Sant Andreu Jazz Band, an ensemble under the direction of teacher and musician Joan Chamorro, which served as the foundation for her early recording career.
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Following her initial work with Chamorro, Motis released the album Feeling Good in 2012. Her profile expanded significantly by 2014, earning critical notice for her vocal delivery and improvisation skills. She transitioned to major label work with the release of Emotional Dance on Impulse! in 2017. Her 2019 release, Do outro lado do azul, focused on Brazilian music and original compositions, while 2021 saw the collaboration Colors & Shadows, produced alongside Mike Mossman and the WDR Big Band Cologne.
Collaborative Projects and Performances
Motis has engaged in various high-profile collaborations. In 2015, she performed as the opening act for the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club during their Adiós tour in Boston and New York, sharing the stage with Omara Portuondo. In 2019, she participated in Yo-Yo Ma's The Bach Project, performing a duet of the Catalonian folk song El cant dels ocells in a public park in Barcelona. This performance is documented on Ma’s album Notes For The Future. More recently, she led a quintet for the 2022 album Loopholes, co-led with her husband, the Austrian jazz chordophonist Christoph Mallinger.
Fast facts
- Born: 1995, Barcelona, Spain
- Primary instruments: Trumpet, saxophone, voice
- Languages: Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, English
- Major label debut: Emotional Dance (2017)
- Professional debut album: Joan Chamorro presents Andrea Motis (2010)
- Education: IEA Oriol Martorell; Catalonia College of Music
Questions readers ask
What languages does Andrea Motis sing in?
Her repertoire includes songs in Catalan, Spanish, Portuguese, and English.
Which instruments does she play?
Motis is a multi-instrumentalist who performs as a trumpeter and saxophonist in addition to her work as a jazz singer.
Achievements
- Instruments: piccolo trumpet and voice
- Genres: jazz
