RAZL
Razl is the name I go by as a composer and guitarist, though you might also know me as Raúl Huelves.
In 2008, I recorded my debut album, Rotonova. I was lucky to collaborate with some incredible musicians on this project, like Mike Keneally, Bryan Beller, Dean Brown, Damian Erskine and Charlie Dennard. The album got a lot of love from both national outlets like Guitarra Total and Guitarrista, and internationally from Guitar Player Magazine and Jazz.com.
That same year, I joined forces with blues and soul organist Mauri Sanchis and started playing with the Mauri Sanchis Super Band, hitting stages at festivals like the San Javier Jazz Festival and Cazorla Blues Festival. Along with drummer Blas Fernández, I also contributed to Mauri Sanchis’ Modern Organ Trio album, What Did You Expect!, which came out in 2011.
Around mid-2010, I dove into recording my next album, Microscopic, alongside Nashville bassist Bryan Beller and drummer Pepe Acebal. A lucky meeting with New York guitarist Will Bernard (who regularly drums in Stanton Moore’s Trio) led to him inviting me to feature on one of the album tracks.
With Microscopic, I wanted to hone my sound, centering around trio compositions but layering in orchestration and guitar arrangements to create a textured musical backdrop.
«Spanish guitarist Raúl Huelves (a.k.a. Razl) leads a power trio featuring bassist extraordinaire Bryan Beller. Coaxing super-seductive tones from both electric and acoustic guitars sans pick, Razl struts and grooves hard throughout, as compelling riffs, clever rhythmic twists, atypical harmonic touches, and an imaginative use of effects further flavor this savory sonic gumbo.»
Barry Cleveland-Guitar Player Magazine
«I just had the pleasure of listening to Razl´s latest album, «Microscopic». I cannot think of a better use of your time than to listen to this guitarist play some of the most infectious grooves being heard on this planet.»
Walter Kolosky (music journalist, author of Follow your heart-John McLaughlin song by song)
«This is Fusion with a capital F, proving that there’s no shame in revisiting the past when the results are this good.«
Mark Saleski-Jazz.com
«Razl’s second album, Microscopic, is a real step forward from his impressive debut, Rotonova. His style hasn’t changed radically (although this time out it’s a «highly addictive guitar-and-beyond ridden groove-a-thon»), but Microscopic is not only stripped down instrumentally (basically a power trio album), but Razl’s tunes are both tighter and more focused and he seems to be developing a stronger individual voice as a composer.»
Zapniles-Proggnosis
«Microscopic continues the trend set on Rotonova with nine slightly off-the-wall funk-inspired instrumentals with titles such as The Amazing Story of Al the Aardvark and Zombie Brew. What ‘s not to like?»
Henri Strik-Background Magazine
«Razl truly plays the blues, bops with feeling, has a great sense of taste in the interludes, is self-demanding, and expresses himself with precise and fluid phrasing. Without a doubt, Rotonova deserves to be in a good catalog of quality guitar material.«
Zapniles-Proggnosis
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