Nowhere Jazz Quartet: The Free, Urban Sound of Bogotá’s Jazz
For the past sixteen years, drummer and composer Juan Camilo Anzola, a professor at the Universidad Distrital de Bogotá, has led one of the most consistent and innovative projects in Colombian jazz: the Nowhere Jazz Quintet (now a quartet). Founded in 2009 based on his own compositions, the group has managed to evolve without losing its identity, moving through different formats — performing as a quintet for over ten years and now transformed into a quartet.
Since its beginnings, Nowhere has had a prominent presence at Bogotá’s Jazz al Parque Festival, where Anzola has repeatedly achieved the highest scores in auditions, both with the quintet and with his other project, the Anzola New Trio, which he considers a natural extension of the band. Their first album, “En ningún lugar” (“Nowhere”), was a statement of intent: a sonic exploration that delved into various lineups and styles, ultimately arriving at a unique musical language.
That language reflects a range of influences, including the energy of hard bop, the modernity of acid jazz, as well as funk and progressive rock, all fused in a style where improvisation remains the central axis. The group is known for its balance between structure and freedom, with explosive cuts, tight interplay, strong support for soloists, and other qualities that reflect the chemistry among its members and the virtuosity of each one.
The current lineup includes William Suarez on bass, Juan Felipe Cárdenas on saxophone, Juan Manuel Echeverri on piano, and of course, Juan Camilo Anzola on drums.
In 2025, Nowhere Jazz Quartet will release their fourth album, recorded at La Cajita de Música at the Universidad de los Andes by Juan José Iriarte, a sound engineering student. The album reflects the maturity achieved after four years of performing and developing the pieces that comprise it: a synthesis of their journey and a reaffirmation of their musical identity.
The name Nowhere captures the spirit of the band: music without roots, free of borders, that can belong anywhere — and nowhere. Anzola plays with the words Nowhere – Now – Here, which for him express the very essence of jazz: living in the moment, listening, and improvising.
The group has received grants, won calls for proposals, and their music is beginning to be recognized beyond Colombia. This year, they will embark on a tour in Mexico, performing at iconic venues such as Parker & Lenox. Their performance will be available on Oh!Jazz starting October 25th.
With an urban, contemporary, and deeply Bogotan sound, Nowhere Jazz Quartet represents the maturity and freedom of jazz made in Colombia: music that doesn’t seek a fixed place, because its home is in the moment — in the improvised dialogue between musicians who listen, take risks, and reinvent themselves.
by José Daniel Mejía Valle