Oscar Peñas Revisits the Joe Henderson Lab

Barcelona-born guitarist Oscar Peñas returns to SFJAZZ for his third performance at the Joe Henderson Lab, leading a trio whose sensitive, minimalist sound transforms the intimate venue into a space for spontaneous musical storytelling.

See the full show details and ticket information at the end of this feature. Listen to the full conversation with Oscar Peñas below:

A Journey from Campfires to Brooklyn

Growing up in Barcelona, Peñas’ musical journey didn’t begin with the rigorous, isolated practice of the conservatory. Instead, he picked up the guitar at age eight, inspired by the communal strumming of chords around campfires during Boy Scout-style excursions. While his parents recognized his natural ability and encouraged classical training, by age 17 Peñas felt disconnected from the "solitude" required by the classical repertoire.

He sought a musical conversation, a search that led him to the Musik school in Barcelona and, eventually, to the deep, improvisational waters of jazz. "I knew I didn’t want to continue classical guitar," Peñas recalls, noting that his first jazz teacher gave him a handwritten list of greats—from Jim Hall to Ralph Towner—that he carried in his wallet like a map to a new world. This path eventually led him to Brooklyn in 2007, where he began blending his Spanish heritage and classical roots into a "deeply compositional" American jazz language.

Flipping the Script

In an era when the music industry often demands a "record then tour" cycle, Peñas has deliberately flipped the script. For the upcoming SFJAZZ shows, much of the material remains unreleased, evolving nightly on stage before it ever reaches a studio microphone.

"The concept of heartfelt jazz is always a work in progress," Peñas explains. He views his performances as "listening moments" where the real music unfolds through spontaneity rather than rigid arrangements. This philosophy was perhaps best captured on his 2022 album Almadraba, where he recorded the intimate "Ballad of the Fishermen" as a duo with the legendary bassist Ron Carter during a simple lunch break. "It was almost a religious experience," he says of that session, a feeling he strives to recreate with his current trio.

Show Highlights

The San Francisco performances will showcase Peñas’ "harmonic imagination" through a repertoire that spans his career—from reimagined pieces from his 2003 debut to the complex, visual suites of his recent work.

The Trio

Oscar Peñas (Guitar, Composition, Bandleader): Known for a precise finger-picking technique that prioritizes clarity and storytelling over showiness.

Corentin Le Hir (upright bass): A French-born, New York-based bassist who provides a "deep groove" and serves as the trio’s reliable, grounded support.

Vinnie Sperrazza (Drums): A central figure in the Brooklyn jazz scene, Sperrazza is a "creative and versatile" drummer who often learns Peñas’ complex parts by heart to remain fully present in the moment.

If You Go

Who: Oscar Peñas Trio

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026

Time: 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Venue: SFJAZZ, Joe Henderson Lab

Address: 201 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Tickets: SFJAZZ.org

Photo: Jimmy Katz