Juan spent some days at San Juan shooting the Graffigna estates and winery for Estefania Jacobs and Jean del Pino at Pernod Ricard. Amazing views. And wine, of course.
Juan was invited to participate in the 15th Annual Auction at the prestigious Museo Sivori in Buenos Aires. The photograph Sydney 2013 #8 was sold to a private collector.
What's on the CD player this week
Steve Reich: Music for 18 musicians.This month the very same Steve Reich will be performing at Teatro Colon this seminal piece composed 40 years ago, along with Argentinian and Uruguayan musicians. Looking forward to this concert I am re-discovering this beautiful pulsing piece of music so keen to my ears. The recordings are two: the classic one on ECM (1979) and a recent one by the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble, conducted by Bill Ryan, which is also superb.
New campaign for Luigi Bosca
What's on the CD player this week
Beck: Morning Phase. For those of us who treasure Mutations and especially Sea Change, Beck was treated us with his last release in the very same vein. This final part of the triptych is even softer than the previous instalments, with mushy strings, beautiful guitars and floydish vocals. Hard to get away from this sound world.
Cover of Guitar Dream, Japan
Trash bins for Rossi
Miguel Rodríguez Arias, film maker
Dutch Orange for Rossi
New film about Architect César Pelli
Miguel Rodríguez Arias is working on a documentary film about the interesting life and work of Argentinian star architect César Pelli. Originally from Tucumán, Architect Pelli has funded a remarkably successful studio in New Haven, USA, and designed many of the world's most iconic buildings, like the Petronas in Kuala Lumpur. Miguel asked Juan to do some backstage photography, just as he did during the filming of other awarded films by him before (El Nurenmberg Argentino/2004, etc)
Alvear Art Hotel
Miguel Rodríguez Arias on César Pelli
What's on the CD player this week
"Sound City": real to reel. Dave Grohl has put together many wonderful musicians and directed a documentary film called Sound City. The movie is about the sheer joy of playing and recording plain (or not so plain) rock music starring Chris Goss, Joshua Homme, Rupert Neve, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, Trent Reznor, Rick Rubin and Paul Mc Cartney to name just a few. The soundtrack is a true marvel, similar in a way to Slash's first solo album. It has been on steady rotation since I came back from Sydney.
Alvear Art Hotel
Gancia for Cepas Argentinas
Sydney Opera House
Graffigna Malbec Glass
Wallpaper City Guide update 2013
Juan has been hectic shooting new locations for the Wallpaper City Guide Buenos Aires 2013 update. Many wonderful newly opened spaces will be included in the guide.
El templo de la imagen
What's on the CD player this week
Debussy's Nocturnes. Debussy has always been the main composer for me, and his Nocturnes came to my attention recently as the first of them (Nuages) has been used as the soundtrack for a new TV commercial (Nextel pareja). The recording by Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting the LA Philharmonic (Sony, 1994) and the one by Paavo Jarvi conducting the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (Telarc, 2005) have been on heavy rotation this week. What a marvel, this music!
Gancia, for Cepas Argentinas
Cepas Argentinas
Juan has been steadily contributing for Cepas Argentinas in 2012. He has provided pictures for Gancia, Martini, Amargo Obrero as well as for Viniterra wines.
New Luigi Bosca Reserva
Essencia
Novonordisk
Juan just finished shooting products for the Danish laboratory Novonordisk. Juas has been a supplier for the international company for many years, providing portraits of employees and directors, as well as photographing their specialty products.
Father's day mag for Jumbo
New campaign for Tenaris
Juan has been recently shooting portraits for Tenaris, the leading supplier of tubes for the world's energy industry. Juan Pablo Giovaneli, who hired Juan for this job, proved an excellent director for the assignment.
La Sole for Raza
Andy Torres for Cosmopolitan TV
Romano Ricci for VOGUE Brasil
Whole new campaign for America TV
Just returned from Mexico, Juan has begun several shooting dates at the studio portraying all talents from America TV. Just as fifteen years ago, when he used to do this job four times a year, on reversal film! The campaign has just been released so you can see many of the pictures decorating BA.
Suite 1209 at the Four Seasons BA
Cover for Arquitectura y Diseño (Issue No. 135)
What's on the CD player this week
"High violet" by The National. (4AD) Dark and introspective pop, the new recording by the Brooklyn-based band The National. Baritone Matt Berninger sings slow, melancholic beautiful songs ideal for a rainy day, or even better, as a soundtrack for a painstaking long editing day at the studio.
Arquitectura & Diseño (Spain)
Assignments for RBA (Spain)
Busy schedule during holidays! Due to bad weather Juan had to visit Punta del Este twice alongside longtime friend stylist Sol Van Dorssen in order to complete the assignments for Habitania and Arquitectura & Diseño (Spain). The shots were terrific. Will post some of them once published.
What's on the CD player this week
"Rio", by Keith Jarrett. Just three days before playing at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires KJ improvised this concert at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event must have been special, for the music is a wonder. A pity the chemistry between KJ and the porteños was not on the same level as this recording shows was in Rio.
Juan is featured in the contributor's page in VOGUE Brasil (November Issue)
Vogue Brasil
Juan was hired again by VOGUE Brasil; this time he shot French perfume designer Romano Ricci, creator of recently released "Juliette has a gun". The portraits will be featured in the February issue.
The beautiful music of Benny Goodman re-created by expert Swedish players. They share a fresh approach not easy to find among American musicians. Some pieces were my father's favorites, so listening to them is like a Sunday morning at home, helping him wash the car while the Blaupunkt played Benny. The Opus 3 1986 recording is, as always, a marvel.
Once again Dany Nijensohn guided me through unknown (at least, by me) electronic waters. Relaxed, contemplative, beautiful sounds that remind me, in a way, of Ulrich Schnauss' music.
What's on the CD player this week
Colin Vallon: Rruga (ECM 2185) This trio of young Swiss players excel on atmospheric moods and mysterious, reflective moments. Stunning playing, exemplary recording, their original compositions provide excellent company for long shooting winter days.
Novecento Raices
Assignment for Cosmopolitan TV
Regatta building for Architect Tonconogy
Father's day for Jumbo
Puente Celeste plays at the CAFF
To celebrate their 10 years together, Puente Celeste (band of folklore wizards) is playing at the Club Atletico Fernandez Fierro. I've been there last Thursday and it was pure magic. Do not miss this one!
Finca Flichman winery
Deco&Hogar for Jumbo
Seco for Jumbo
Assignment for Canal(a)
Intecons building for M/SG/S/S/S
Another picture of Ivana@Las Oreiro for Jumbo
More covers for BIS
In Salta
New catalogue for Jumbo
Recent work for Bodega del Fin del Mundo
URB for JUMBO
Keith Jarrett at Teatro Colon
Tonight Keith Jarrett is improvising on the piano at Teatro Colon. It has been nearly three decades since I listened to "The Köln Concert" for the first time. The experience was revealing. It is probably one of the albums I have enjoyed the most. I clearly remember once driving with friends along a deserted road someplace in Uruguay while listening to Keith play the old Bösendorfer in Cologne. The compact cassette sounded awful, but I could do nothing but wonder: listening to this beautiful music recorded many years ago, in a far away city, while driving through this lonely country, was magic! Well, life has been good to me, and gave me the opportunity of contributing to ECM on Keith Jarrett's "Testament" album cover, a recording of two improvised concerts in Paris and London. This was a couple of years ago. Tonight I will be listening to the man himself, no state of the art recording or crappy cassette, just an incredible musician playing the piano. You bet I am looking forward to this experience.
What's on the CD player this week
Anat Fort Trio: "And if" (ECM 2109) Very hard to say why this disc is so amazing. But it is. Really. Not something I have never listened to, not something new, but still something quite out of the ordinary. Deep, airy, beautiful music to spend whole days with a smile.
A restaurant for this weekend: "Siamo nel forno di Gattorna"
Nestor Gattorna makes the best pizza in BA. Period. Give a try to the Ruccola and the Patatte. Siamo nel Forno di Gattorna Costa Rica 5886. Palermo Hollywood. Tel: 5290-9529
Apartment at Torre Renoir, by Arch. Mariana Galli
Dino's new portrait
Altura maxima (Amalaya)
Esplendor Palermo Soho
Esplendor Buenos Aires
What's on the CD player this week
"Wilco, the album". Chicago based band makes wonderful music. This CD + "Sky Blue Sky" have been played dozens of times at the studio these last weeks.
Jose Saluzzi
Torres Mulieris for M/SG/S/S/S
Recent work for Bodegas Dante Robino part II
What's on the CD player this week
"Dark eyes" by the Tomasz Stanko Quintet. The brand new album by the Polish trumpet whiz features a new Scandinavian band after many years of working with the Marcin Wasilewski Trio. The disc is obviously superb, though I believe it is not on a par with the last one, "Lontano", still my favorite from this source. Anyway, mysterious atmospheres rule the project and they are very suitable for a drive in the orange lit streets of San Telmo, here in BA. (ECM)
California/Tokyo based MA recordings' owner and original one-point recording wizard Todd Garfinkle has been recording two projects in BA, one with Puente Celeste and another one with The Lucas Nikotian Trio. Juan is providing the pictures for both album covers besides shooting the recording sessions by this amazing group of musicians.
Obelisco elongado, Bs As, 2002
Palermo View for M/SG/S/S/S
What's on the CD player this week
Beck: "Sea Change" (MoFi UDCD 780). Languid, atmospheric music featuring Beck's melancholic voice over lush strings and haunting acoustic guitars. The 2002 recording has been recently remastered by Mobile Fidelity and the result sounds simply gorgeous. I think we have listened to it as much as 100 times already.
Another cover for BIS records
Films you must see
"El secreto de sus ojos", amazing film by Juan Jose Campanella, featuring Soledad Villamil, Ricardo Darin, Pablo Rago and Guillermo Francella.
New series
What's on the CD player this week
"Raising sand", by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. This Grammy award winner was expertly produced by T Bone Burnett. Weird, haunting, strangely sweet, this music guarantees a night ride across universes that could have been imagined by David Lynch. Track no. 9, "Fortune teller", is unmissable. (Rounder).
I have just re-discovered the album "Out of the cool" by The Gil Evans Orchestra. This masterpiece produced by Creed Taylor was originally released by Impulse circa 1961. The remaster sounds incredibly fresh.
What's on the CD player this week
Melody Gardot: "My one and only thrill". An impressive second album by this young miracle, expertly produced by Larry Klein with unbelievable strings arranged and conducted by Vince Mendoza (Verve 1796782).