Rai Castells is a guitarist, composer, and educator from Catalonia, Spain. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in Jazz Performance from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he received several scholarships, including the prestigious Elvin Jones Award granted by the Performance Department, and the Berklee World Scholarship Tour.

During his years in Boston, he studied with renowned musicians such as George Garzone, Joe Lovano, Hal Crook, Mick Goodrick, and Joanne Bracken, experiences that deeply influenced his musical vision and artistic development.

Castells has shared the stage with numerous leading figures in the jazz scene, including Bill McHenry, Jeff Galindo, Robert Kaufman, Miguel “Pintxo” Villar, Benet Palet, Martí Serra, Jordi Gaspar, Jordi Gardeñas, Marco Mezquida, and Raynald Colom.

He currently leads the Rai Castells Quintet, Rai Castells Organ Trio, and Rai Castells Trio, projects that explore different facets of modern jazz through improvisation, collective interplay, and composition.

As a recording artist, he has participated in various albums such as Impros & Films (co-led with Jordi Gardeñas, Temps Records), Aramateix, Big Band Vic, Jordi Boixadós – Jocs de Rol and Vuitanta Mil Segons (produced and recorded by Castells), Chico de la Moto, Wednesday Nispers, A Year from Now (Wednesday Nispers, Temps Records), and Welcome (Rai Castells, Another Planet Records).

His new album, Shifting (Fresh Sound Records, 2025), marks a new step in his artistic journey — an energetic and contemporary work that reflects the collective identity and evolving sound of his quintet.

https://raicastells.com/