Ramiro Zayas is an Argentine pianist, composer and arranger based in Berlin. His music moves between introspection and collective energy, blending Argentine roots with the freedom of contemporary jazz. His work combines lyricism, abstraction and a constant search for new forms.

As a leader, he has released Río Interior (2019), Parte del viaje (2024) and Collector (2025), three albums that reflect his artistic evolution and his interest in different formats, from small ensembles to contemporary orchestras. His new album, Familia, recorded with the Basel Jazz Orchestra, expands his writing for large ensemble and deepens his compositional language.

He has performed at festivals in Germany, Switzerland, Uruguay and Argentina, and has been part of projects such as Big Nant, Anónimous Big Band, Mingunos and Tundra. Since 2018 he leads the Ramiro Zayas Ensemble in Buenos Aires and Berlin, as well as the chamber sextet Collector. His work has received support from Musicboard Berlin, Deutscher Musikrat and Kanton Basel, and is known for bridging tradition, improvisation and modernity.

Familia is Ramiro Zayas’ new project alongside the Basel Jazz Orchestra — a tribute to the “extended family” the musician has built between Europe and Latin America. Conceived as a celebration of community and creation, the album merges tradition and modernity through rich harmonic writing.

Recorded in Basel under the direction of Francesca Gaza, the album presents original compositions shaped by lyricism, improvisation and the energy of contemporary jazz orchestras. Each piece reflects influences ranging from Guillermo Klein to Kenny Wheeler, alongside elements of Argentine popular music and chamber writing.

With an orchestra of eighteen international musicians, Familia confirms Zayas’ compositional maturity and his ability to create collective sonic universes from a deeply personal perspective.