Home » Jazz Musicians » Mario Duenas

Mario Duenas

Mario Dueñas was born on April 23, 1985 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Was introduced to the piano at the age of 5, developing a special interest in harmony, and soon began a self- teaching process through record transcribing and bibliographic studies. Years later, established a variety of ensambles to further explore both the languages of composition as well as performance. After experiencing the music of Bill Evans and John Coltrane along with many other master improvisers, decided to continue a deeper study into the nature of improvisation. In 2008, traveled to the United States where he married to Denisse Navarro. While continuing to explore various improvisational approaches, he began to learn how to play the saxophone, in order to experience a different perspective of phrasing, timing and tone production. By 2013, their son Salvatore was born. Later traveled to Chicago, where they currently reside. Here, he finally decided to record and produce his debut album “Beliefs”, a sequence of spontaneous compositions, inspired on the human desire to understand the nature of reality. This electric solo piano project is the product of years of explorations of musical discourse, particularly through free improvisation.

Awards

2015: Was selected to receive $30,000 in scholarship from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. 2006: Guajazz, trio co-founded by Mario Dueñas, was awarded "Revelation Jazz Group of the Year” by the Guayaquil Jazz Project.


Tags

17
Year in Review

10 Most Downloaded Tracks: 2017

Read "10 Most Downloaded Tracks: 2017" reviewed by Michael Ricci


All About Jazz tracks how often a featured MP3 is downloaded, and the following represent our top ten in 2017. If you missed them the first time around, give them a listen now, and enjoy! The Hour Has Come (01:51) Mario Duenas From: Cosmic Crossword (Self Produced) Featured: 2017-04-29 70,213 downloads Make It Rain Love My Way (5:17) Tony Adamo ...

49
Take Five With...

Take Five With Mario Duenas

Read "Take Five With Mario Duenas" reviewed by Mario Dueñas


About Mario Dueñas: Mario Dueñas was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He was introduced to the piano at the age of 5, developing a special interest in harmony, and soon began a self-teaching process through record transcribing and bibliographic studies. Years later, Mario established a variety of ensembles to further explore both the languages of composition as well as performance. Instrument(s): Piano Teachers and/or influences? I began discovering harmony at approximately the ...

29
Year in Review

Top 25 MP3 Downloads: 2015

Read "Top 25 MP3 Downloads: 2015" reviewed by Michael Ricci


All About Jazz tracks how often a featured MP3 is downloaded, and the following represent our top 25 in 2015. If you missed them the first time around, give them a listen now, and enjoy! Other Minds By: Mario Dueñas From: Beliefs  (Self Produced) Featured: 2015-12-28 Astrologic By: Ernesto Aurignac From: UNO  (Self Produced) Featured: 2015-12-31 The ...

Read more articles
"[Other Minds] A tune to remind us we are mere bytes in the universal operating system that reboots every infinity." – Fiona Ord-Shrimpton, All About Jazz.

"From beginning to end, Dueñas allows us to experience the deepest recesses of his soul, and we are fully enriched by it all." – Stacey Zering, No Depression.

"The six selections on Beliefs form a suite of music that rewards repeated listenings. Overall, this is an impressive debut for Mario Dueñas." – Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian and author of 11 books including The Great Jazz Guitarists, The Jazz Singers, Jazz On Film and Jazz On Record 1917-76.

Read more

Pat Martino
guitar
Jimmy Smith
organ, Hammond B3
John Coltrane
saxophone
Dexter Gordon
saxophone, tenor
Jim Hall
guitar
Joe Henderson
saxophone
Pat Metheny
guitar
Charlie Parker
saxophone, alto

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Cosmic Crossword

Mario Dueñas
2017

buy

Beliefs

Mario Dueñas
2015

buy

The Hour Has Come

From: Cosmic Crossword
By Mario Duenas

Other Minds

From: Beliefs
By Mario Duenas

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.