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Carolina Calvache

Colombian jazz and classical pianist Carolina Calvache, is part of the new generation of pianist and composers whose style blends South American rhythms with a contemporary New York sound. Her participation in 2011 Mary Lou Williams woman in jazz festival for outstanding artists, brought the attention of the North East audiences. Legendary pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi described her music as “Marvelous”.

Carolina lives in NYC becoming part of the jazz scene. She has performed with John Benitez, Samuel Torres, Ludwig Alfonso, Ross Pederson, Armando Gola among others. She is working in her album of all original compositions that embraces Latin American flavors including her Colombian folk rhythms, Cuban, and Peruvian music as well. She describes her sound as :“ a mix of all my roots, the countries that I feel part of, plus a special harmonic jazz sound. There is no other place to be inspired to produce an album like this than in NYC, where you can hear, see, and taste through people, the beauty of each country in the same place”.

Carolina Calvache is a 26-year-old jazz and classical pianist, and composer. She began her piano studies at age 6, at the Conservatorio Antonio Maria Valencia in Cali, Colombia. Her keen interest in composition and jazz made her decide to come to the United States and pursue a career in jazz. She finished her Bachelor in Music in the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia. In 2006 she won a jazz scholarship offered by the University of North Texas, where she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Jazz performance, while at UNT, the pianist conducted, and arranged for big band and one ensemble called The Zebras. She also taught a jazz piano lab class.

Carolina had been influenced and exposed to different styles since she was very young. She used to listen and play salsa, in addition to the traditional music from her country. When she was 14, Carolina starts listening to Miles Davis, Fort Apache, Tito Puente, Chick Corea and Keith Jarret records. Later during her career the pianist has been influenced by musicians such as Stefan Karlsson, Danilo Perez, Fred Hersch, Mulgrew Miller, David kikosky, Eddie Gomez, Ed soph, Maria Schneider, Jim McNeely among others. Her musical direction is going not only in the performance and composition field. Carolina has an interest for formal education. She has given clinics on composition and improvisation in Cali, Colombia. “I will continue promoting these workshops, because we, as professional musicians, need to pass all our knowledge to younger generations.

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Album Review

Claudia Acuna: Duo

Read "Duo" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Alcuni classici della canzone popolare latina costituiscono il nucleo del sesto disco da leader di Claudia Acuña. In questa celebrazione la cantante cilena ha coinvolto sette protagonisti del jazz contemporaneo in altrettante esecuzioni in duo caratterizzate da palpitante relazione con la loro identità tradizionale. I due brani conclusivi sono cantati in inglese e la vedono piena protagonista: “Cristal Silence" di Chick Corea è cantato a cappella; “YO" è una sua composizione originale eseguita con un sottofondo percussivo. ...

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

People of Earth

Truth Revolution Records
2023

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Duo

Ropeadope
2022

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Chiki

From: People of Earth
By Carolina Calvache

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