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Juancho Herrera

Juancho Herrera Hailing from Colombia and Venezuela, guitarist/vocalist/composer Juancho Herrera is one of the most interesting performers of today’s New York Latin American music scene. With an impressive career of more than 20 years as a frontman and sideman, Juancho has had the opportunity to perform at some of the most important venues in 34 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, such as The Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), Shibuya Koukaido (Tokyo), Centro Cultural Corpbanca (Caracas), Carnegie Hall, Blue Note (New York), Teatro Municipal (Santiago de Chile), among others. Juancho Herrera started his musical journey with the influence of the Venezuelan music tradition. In 1990 he enrolled at Ars Nova School of Music in Caracas, Venezuela. While living in Venezuela he worked as a guitarist and vocalist for several bands including: Solazul (Latin Jazz) Caravana Theater Co., Sus 4 (Jazz- Rock) among others. In 1993 Juancho traveled to the U.S. to continue his studies at Berklee College of Music, were he received a scholarship as a guitarist. In 2000 Mr. Herrera relocated to NYC where he has been based until present day. He has been an essential part of groups lead by some of today's top artists in jazz and world music, such as Claudia Acuña (Jazz), Marta Gomez (Colombia), Lila Downs, (Grammy Award winner), and Sofia Rei (South American Jazz). Mr. Herrera has also performed and recorded with world class artists such as Mercedes Sosa (Argentina), The Chieftains (Ireland), Branford Marsalis (Jazz), Nestor Torres (Grammy Award winner), Ryuichi Sakamoto (Japanese Icon), Alejandro Sanz (Multi-Grammy Award winner), Aquiles Báez (Paquito D’ Rivera), Joe Vasconcellos (Chile), Johnny Pacheco (Salsa Icon), Haydee Milanés (Cuban Pop), Jenny Sheinman Quartet (Avant-garde Jazz, Bill Frisell), Francisco Pacheco (Un Solo Pueblo), Zemog El Gallo Bueno (Mutant Salsa) among others. Juancho has written music for short films, (Done by Oskar Landi 2009). His guitar work has been featured in several off Broadway plays and indie films such as the Indian piece, Vazhakku Enn 18/9. In 2005 Juancho released his album Buscando, produced in collaboration with Fernando Aponte, (Ryuchi Sakamoto, Marisa Monte). In 2011 he released his album Banda, featuring original compositions inspired by an urban, modern vision of Latin America deeply rooted in traditional sounds evoking those of Africa and the Americas. In addition to long-time collaborators Yayo Serka (Lila Downs) on drums and Ben Zwerin (Nouvelle Vague) on bass, Juancho recruits for this project some of the most innovative and dynamic artists of the New York Latin and Jazz scenes such as Claudia Acuña, Anat Cohen, Jason Lindner, Sofia Rei, Aquiles Baez, Sofia Tosello, and Samuel Torres, among others.


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Album Review

Nikolett Pankovits: River

Read "River" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann


A dominating proportion of Hungarian lyrics paired with various Hungarian folkloric elements spread across fourteen compositions lend influential character but aren't all-defining on vocalist Nikolett Pankovits' ambitious sophomore outing, River. On the album, the Hungarian singer, based out of New York, is joined by an octet choir of handpicked Hungarian vocalists, who add complex harmonic movements and much body to traditional Hungarian songs that are treated to improvisational arrangements and Latin grooves. The result is a fusion of ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Transit Net

Filtron M
2021

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River

Ninwood Music
2020

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Ideki

Ninwood Music
2019

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A Fényes Nap

Ninwood Music
2019

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Banda

Unknown label
2012

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