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Diego Urcola

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, three‑time Grammy nominee Diego Urcola has been a member of the Paquito D'Rivera Quintet since 1991. Additionally, the oft‑in‑demand trumpeter performs regularly with the legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath and the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All‑Star Big Band.

Urcola's musical studies began at the age of 9, in the Music Department of the Colegio Ward where his father Ruben served as director. He continued his studies and in 1988 he received the title of Profesor Nacional de Música from the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica. Subsequently, having received a scholarship to study abroad, the trumpeter and flugelhorn player moved to Boston where he attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music. In 1990 he received his diploma with an emphasis in Jazz Performance. Less than a year later, he made the jump to New York where he established himself as one of the truly gifted and versatile young artists. He has never looked back. As noted, his affiliation with D'Rivera's various projects began almost upon arrival. He also began working with a number of other well‑known artists. In the mid 1990s he toured with Slide Hampton, the great trombonist and arranger, in a group the bandleader referred to as “The Jazz Masters”. Urcola toured extensively with the United Nations Orchestra under the leadership of D’Rivera after Dizzy Gillespie’s death. He also spent a short time working with Wynton Marsalis, including performing with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. By this time, Urcola received calls regularly, and he was starting to lead his own bands. Still, he decided to augment appearances with further music education. In 1997, he received his master's degree in Jazz Performance from Queens College, in New York, a school whose well‑respected jazz department was anchored by Jimmy Heath. That same year, Urcola earned second place honors at the 1997 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition. Although already a seasoned performer, the honor broadened awareness of his work.

During the next few years Urcola received key assignments from players a generation or more older than him. The late saxophonist‑icon, Joe Henderson, invited him to join his band. So did trombonist Steve Turre who, at the time, was leading a project he called “Sanctified Shells”, an atypical ensemble centered on the use of conch shells. Other associations for Urcola at the time included work with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and with Wayne Shorter for a broadcast TV special titled, "The 2nd Annual Celebration of America's Music." The special broadcast, hosted by Bill Cosby, aired on ABC‑TV in 1998.

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15
Album Review

Pablo Ablanedo: Christreza

Read "Christreza" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


This LP clocks in at around 38-minutes and is a bit of a tease since it progresses rather quickly and may leave many listeners wanting more. Here, Argentine-reared pianist/composer/educator Pablo Ablanedo's compositional gifts often take on cinematic film scoring intonations and developments, executed with jazz luminaries who the artist met while attending the Berklee College of Music in 1999. Owing to his heritage, the leader infuses subtle Latin jazz foreground grooves into several movements, whereas the opener “La ...

7
Album Review

Diego Urcola Quartet: El Duelo

Read "El Duelo" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


The cover of this album shows Diego Urcola (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Paquito D'Rivera (alto saxophone, clarinet) back-to-back, as if about to engage in the titular duel. But the sound is that of two veteran players jointly taking a leap into the unknown. A quartet without piano is an unusual setting for both of them. D'Rivera's liner notes mention Gerry Mulligan's quartet with Chet Baker (represented by “ I Know, Don't Know How"), but Ornette Coleman's quartet is another, more surprising ...

586
Interview

Diego Urcola: Musical Ecstasy

Read "Diego Urcola: Musical Ecstasy" reviewed by R.J. DeLuke


Jazz music, its freedom and emphasis on self-expression through improvisation, has always had a strong pull on its practitioners, its artists. As fans and listeners, those qualities are also treasured. The infectious nature of those qualities is why jazz fans are passionate and loyal. It's music, born and bred in the United States, that has a fan base that stretches across the globe. In the case of a certain young musician in Buenos Aires, just a few decades ...

183
Album Review

Diego Urcola Quartet: Appreciation

Read "Appreciation" reviewed by Charles Walker


Subtlety seldom brings rewards in the life of a journeyman jazz musician. In a field overcrowded with competent colleagues, plagued by spotty media coverage and half-starved by the problems facing the music industry more generally, a gimmick is often required to garner even scant attention. Argentinian-born, New York-based trumpeter Diego Urcola--a long-time member of Paquito D'Rivera's quintet and a stalwart of the late-night NYC scene--avoids the gimmicks on Appreciation, his fourth outing as a leader. Instead, he pushes his Sisyphean ...

285
Album Review

Diego Urcola Quartet: Appreciation

Read "Appreciation" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose


Trumpeter Diego Urcola's is a voice that has remained somewhat hidden--certainly tucked away--for two decades in Paquito D'Rivera's quintet. And then there is the subdued role he has played in Guillermo Klein's fabulous larger ensemble, Los Guachos. However, the graceful candor of his voice is irrepressible, and it was only a matter of time before he would be heard for what he really is and plays. Urcola is distinct and a singular artist in the manner of his more famous ...

155
Album Review

Diego Urcola: Viva

Read "Viva" reviewed by Elliott Simon


Trumpeter Diego Urcola, a mainstay in Paquito D'Rivera's band, branches out on Viva with an all-star group that includes bassist Avishai Cohen and pianist Edward Simon. In addition, a bevy of Urcola compadres appear as guests, making for a diverse presentation of well-played originals with a Latin flair. Urcola, who hails from Argentina, has chosen to highlight the music of his country. Things begin with his own “Tango Azul, a deft combination of jazz and Latin music ...

109
Album Review

Diego Urcola: Viva

Read "Viva" reviewed by John Kelman


With a predominantly Latino lineup and a title like Viva, one might expect trumpeter Diego Urcola's latest release to be heavy on joyous Latin rhythms. However, like his earlier work, it's much broader in scope. His last record, Soundances (Sunnyside, 2003), recorded with an all-Argentinean cast, managed to blur the boundaries between his cultural roots and the urban influences of his current home in New York. If anything, Viva, while not neglecting those roots, finds Urcola in an even more ...

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161

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Diego Urcola

Jazz Musician of the Day: Diego Urcola

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Diego Urcola's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Diego Urcola

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, three time Grammy nominee Diego Urcola has been a member of the Paquito D\'Rivera Quintet since 1991 as well as working regularly with the Caribbean Jazz Project since 2004. Additionally... more

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88

Recording

Diego Urcola releases "Viva" on Cam Jazz

Diego Urcola releases "Viva" on Cam Jazz

Source: All About Jazz

Diego Urcola's new record Viva, features the Grammy-nominated trumpeter leading an all-star lineup. The core group of Edward Simon, Avishai Cohen, Antonio Sanchez, and Pernel Saturnino are joined by guests Paquito D'Rivera, Jimmy Heath, Dave Samuels and Conrad Herwig.

Viva features four Urcola originals, two from fellow Argentine composer/big bandleader Guillermo Klein, a pair from another Argentine composer and one of Urcola's best friends, Juan Raffo, a piece by Heath, and the Astor Piazzola classic, “Adios Nonino," a sublime melody ...

188

Festival

Festival of New Trumpet Music Continues with Diego Urcola, Leron Thomas, Nabate Isles

Festival of New Trumpet Music Continues with Diego Urcola, Leron Thomas, Nabate Isles

Source: All About Jazz

The 3rd Festival of New Trumpet Music Continues with: New Bands, at Spark-August 16-20 161 W. 22nd Street August 17 8:00 PM LeRon Thomas 9:00 PM Diego Urcola Quartet – www.diegourcola.com.  The Grammy nominated trumpeter will be performing music from his newest recording “Soundances.”  10:00 PM Nabate Isles – A mix of diverse musical styles with melodic clarity and rhythmic intensity. August 19 8:00 PM Jesse Neuman and the Bruce Lee Band – www.bruceleeband.com.  Jesse Neuman-acoustic and processed trumpet/laptop, Oscar ...

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Recording

Diego Urcola new CD 'Soundances'

Diego Urcola new CD 'Soundances'

Source: All About Jazz


Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

I Missed You Too!

Paquito Records and Sunnyside Records
2022

buy

El Duelo

Sunnyside Records
2020

buy

Christreza

Newvelle Records
2020

buy

Appreciation

CAM Jazz
2012

buy

Appreciation

CAM Jazz
2011

buy

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