La Locomotora Negra is one of the oldest Jazz Bands existing in Catalonia and Spain. We made our début in 1971 as a quintet. The band has been expanding, and currently comprises sixteen members.   

La Locomotora Negra style leans towards the black Jazz in its more clearly popular forms. We take as a model the most famous orchestras of the Swing Era, such as Fletcher Henderson, Jimmy Lunceford, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, etc... with some incursions into the New Orleans style. 

Throughout our career, we have played in several jazz venues in Barcelona, such as La Cova del Drac, and in the main Catalan cities where their music is followed: Terrassa (Jazz Cava), Sabadell, Granollers, Vilafranca del Penedès, Girona, Ripoll, Lleida, Manresa...etc. 

La Locomotora Negra have taken part in the Barcelona International Jazz Festival, El Vendrell, Sitges, San Sebastián Jazz Festival (where we won the first prize in the Amateur Groups Competition in the Traditional Jazz Category (1977).

We have also played in festivals abroad, like the Hot Club Festival in Montauban (France), where we participated in several editions, the St. Gilles Croix de Vie Festival (1993), also in France, and the Middelheim International Festival in Antwerp (Belgium).

La Locomotora Negra have also given didactic sessions in public and private schools in Barcelona.

Throughout our career we have played with internationally renowned musicians like Bill Coleman, Benny Waters or Gene "Mighty Flea" Conners,  with whom we recorded their second album, "Wild" Bill Davis, Harold Ashby and Willie Cook.

La Locomotora Negra also took part, with great success, in the show "Home and Blues" (Man with Blues), staged first in Barcelona(1977 and 1978), and later in 1979, all over Catalonia.

In 1984 we performed another successful show: "El Duc a Barcelona", a tribute to Duke Ellington, with the presence of some of the  musicians from the original Duke Ellington's orchestra, like Harold Ashby and "Wild" Bill Davis among others, playing along with the band, and in 1993 we offered us the show "Swing" together with the Girona School of Dance.  

 In 1997 (Barcelona) and 1998 (Sitges), La Locomotora Negra performed the concert "Freedom" with the collaboration of  L'Espurna choir.

 The orchestra has also participated in the commemorative Festivals to George Gershwin and Duke Ellington in 1998 and 1999 respectively, in Barcelona.

  RELEASES:

• La Locomotora Negra Nº 1 (1982)

•  Hey, Mr. Landlord! (1983, with Gene Connors).

•  Ellington Train (1985, with Duke Ellington's themes)

•  Jazzin’ and Dancin’ (1988)

•  Round Christmas- (1992, a special cd with Christmas and spiritual songs)

• 25 anys  (25 years, 1995)

• Ellington Train Extension (1999)  

• Memorial Duke Ellington (2001)

• Swing als 30 (2001)

• Originals (2005)

 In 1999 and 2000, La Locomotora Negra offered a religious music concert with the well known Sant Jordi Choir, on the occasion of the XXX aniversary of the religious music concert that Duke Ellington and his orchestra offered in Barcelona in 1969.

Members of La Locomotora Negra: 

• Ricard Gili, Trumpet

• Isidre Delgado, Trumpet

• Miquel Donat, Trumpet

• Ferràn Cailà, Trumpet

• Marc B. Trepat, Trombone

• Victor Gonzàlez, Trombone

• Xavier Trepat, Trombone

• Tomás Gonzàlez, Sax tenor

• Lluís Trepat, Clarinet, alto sax & clarinet

• Toni Gili, Sax tenor & sax soprano

• Àngel Molas, Sax Baritone, alto sax & clarinet  

• Albert Gassull: Alto Sax

• Cristòfol A. Trepat, Piano

• Jordi Casanovas, double bass

• Albert Romaní, Guitar

• Carles Gili, Drums