Darwin Noguera

Nicaraguan pianist, band leader and composer Darwin Noguera debuted with the Miami Beach Symphony Orchestra at the young age of 14, and continued his studies under the tutelage of Eteri Andjaparidze and Larry Novack at DePaul University. He has accomplished an unusual and fluid integration between classical, jazz, flamenco and Latin rhythms. Darwin is the co-founder and composer for the Chicago Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble (CALJE) and also founded the Evolution Quintet. The quintet will be releasing its debut album in June 2009 under the Chicago Sessions label. He has performed with legends such as Steve Turre, Brian Lynch, Paoli Mejias and Howard Levy and often collaborates and plays with local musicians, including Greg Ward, Jesus Enriquez and Guitars of Spain.

Most recently Darwin toured his native Nicaragua with the second annual Nicaraguan International Jazz Festival and will be participating with his trio in 2009 once again. His groups regularly take part in Chicago-area festivals, the most noted performance being Millennium Park's “Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz Series”.