Jesús Santandreu began his studies at the Conservatorio Mestre Vert, in Carcaixent, Valencia (Spain). Later on, he studied under Manuel Miján and pursued his training at the Conservatorio Profesional Amaniel and the Conservatorio Superior, both in Madrid. He attended numerous jazz workshops between 1990 and 1996.

In 1996 he was granted a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Performance in 2000.

Santandreu has written about sixty original pieces and many arrangements. He was commissioned to write for Adolphe Sax Saxophone Quartet (Jocs Artificials), producer Javier Diez Botet (Cerámica Mediterránea), Fundación Autor (Misteri en el camí del for de la punta), Institut Valencià de la Música (Soulmental, piece for Ramón Cardo Big Band; Neumatofonía, for Spanish Brass Luur Metals), Seminario Permanente de Pontevedra (Isabel y Fernanda), Bob Sands Big Band (arrangements, reharmonization and Instrumentation of Maestro Vert’s piece “Bella Enamorada”), El Palau de la Música (symphonic arrangements on movie themes for “Así suena el cine”), Sedajazz (arrangements for small symphonic orchestra and jazz ensemble), Orquesta Azahar de Castellón (full orchestra arrangements for the extraordinary Christmas concerts in 2007 & 2008), Banda Municipal de Bilbao (symphonic band arrangements for the extraordinary Christmas concert in 2008), and the IV Congreso Iberoamericano de Compositores, Arreglistas y Directores de Bandas Sinfónicas y Ensambles (Velo de Isis).

Santandreu is among the most important musicians of the jazz generation of the 90’s in Spain. He began his career at the early age of fourteen, as member of the Jove Jazz Band, from which he is currently the artistic director. He often collaborates with Zé Eduardo, Abe Rábade, Perico Sambeat and Rafael Sanz, among others. Even though he began as an alto saxophone player, Santandreu exclusively plays the tenor sax since 1997. In his language, we can find elements of Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Henderson, Steve Grossman, and John Coltrane, but all integrated into a personal style, passionate, and harmonically rich, with a great sense of rhythm.

On May 17, 2006, the Institut Valencià de la Música appointed him special advisor for jazz to the Fellowship Evaluation Commission.

Awards:

• SGAE Young Jazz Composers Contest: Honorable Mention 1995
• SGAE Young Jazz Composers Contest: 2^nd prize
• Muestra de jazz para jóvenes interpretes de Eivissa: 1^st prize with Saxomanía 1991
• Sadao Watanabe Recognition of Outstanding Musicianship granted by Berklee College of Music
• Woodwind Department Recognition of Outstanding Musicianship granted by Berklee College of Music