Edmar Castaneda
Edmar Castaneda was born in 1978, in the city of Bogota, Colombia. Since his move to the United States in 1994, Edmar has quite literally taken New York and the world stage by storm with the sheer force of his virtuosic command of the harp—revolutionizing the way audiences and critics alike consider an instrument commonly relegated to the “unusual category”. A master at realizing beautiful complexities of time, while skillfully drawing out lush colors and dynamic spirit, Edmar has been characterized as “almost a world unto himself” (The New York Times). The legendary Paquito D’Rivera, Edmar’s frequent collaborator, has remarked:
Edmar is... an enormous talent, he has the versatility and the enchanting charisma of a musician who has taken his harp out of the shadow to become one of the most original musicians from the Big Apple.
Not unlike his fellow rarified musicians that have transformed their lives and immediate circumstances through art, Edmar’s journey traces back to humble and altogether inspiring beginnings. The son of a musician and a mother who nurtured young Edmar’s obvious natural talents, he embraced the noble folkloric traditions of his native land. The “joropo” dance classes which he and his sister regularly attended became for him a master class in movement, accompanied by the harp. Even now, on stages across the globe, one notes how Edmar’s body seemingly engulfs his Colombian harp as he crafts almost unbelievable feats of cross-rhythms, layered with chordal nuances rivaling the most celebrated flamenco guitarist’s efforts. In the beginning I learned to play traditional folk music… I play “el arpa llanera” a Colombian folk harp. “El arpa llanera” ...means harp from the plains.
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- Double Portion by Dan Bilawsky
- Entre Cuerdas by Russ Musto
Live Review
Album Review
- Entre Cuerdas by Dan McClenaghan
July 13, 2015
Edmar Castaneda World Ensemble - The Jazz Standard On August 11-12 - CD...
October 17, 2013
Jazz Harpist Edmar Castaneda Embarks On Six-date Irish Tour
March 21, 2012
Harpist/Composer Edmar Castaneda Releases "Double Portion" Featuring...
February 21, 2012
Edmar Castaneda with Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Miguel Zenon CD Release...
November 25, 2009
The Jazz Session #114: Edmar Castaneda
July 23, 2009
Harpist/Bandleader/Composer Edmar Castaneda Releases New CD Titled...
August 28, 2007
Edmar Castaneda Quartet at Twins in D.C. Aug. 31-Sept. 1
August 28, 2007
Latin Jazz in DC! Reggie Workman's Sculptured Sounds Presents @ Twins...
June 20, 2005
The Piazzolla Legacy: Tango & Beyond! Pablo Ziegler Quartet + Edmar...
June 02, 2005
The Piazzolla Legacy: Tango & Beyond! Pablo Ziegler Quartet + Edmar...
—THE NEW YORK TIMES
Edmar is.. an enormous talent, he has the versatility and the enchanting charisma of a musician who has taken his harp out of the shadow to become one of the most original musicians from the Big Apple.
—PAQUITO D'RIVERA
The most amazing and well received new sensation for Panamanian jazz fans was Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda. —THE PANAMA NEWS
the phenomenal Columbian harpist Edmar Castaneda, whose technically astounding approach to the instrument normally associated with classical music has been registering with scenesters over the past year
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