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Coto Pincheira

Chilean-born pianist Coto Pincheira is an internationally experienced pianist and musical leader with over 20 years of education and experience, playing a variety of musical styles which include but are not limited to; Classical, Jazz, Afro-Cuban Jazz, Cuban Salsa, to Pop music.

Coto started his studies of music at the early age of nine, studying Organ at the Yamaha Academy in Vina Del Mar with Leonardo Barrientos, at the Conservatorium of the Catholic University of Valparaiso with Professor Anibal Correa, Chile most renowned classical pianist. Coto also studied classical music in several conservatoriums of Vina del mar and Santiago. In 1990 Coto studied at the Modern School of Music in Santiago Chile's most prestigious institution. The best school of all “La Calle” (The Streets), where there is an infinite to learn and to experience that will never end.

At 24 he headed to Havana Cuba for ten years, meeting, studying and getting to work with Cuban most renowned pianist, and artists such as Hilario Duran, Ernan Lopez Nussa, and influenced by Ruben Gonzales, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chucho Valdes, Frank Emilio etc... His abilities were so unique and admirable that he performed for two years in the world famous Tropicana Cabaret—the first and only foreign pianist to accomplish the honor of playing with the big band (36 musicians ) for 2 years: Playing for Artists such as Omara Portuondo, Oscar Valdes, Amaury Perez Los Papines, Bamboleo, Diakara, etc..

Coto arrived to the San Francisco Bay Area in mid 2002 gracing the Cuban Salsa and Jazz scene. Coto is playing with the most respected musicians in Bay Area and around.

Awards

Received 01 Visa Classification from the United States of America the highest possible classification a foreign musician can obtain. Only a handful of foreign musicians are awarded this classification due to the strict and extraordinary demands. Obtained work permit to play music professionally in Cuba. Since Coto was not Cuban born, Coto had to perform and be evaluated by the Committee of Musicians consisting of Cuba's most renowned musicians. Coto received a Level One rating which is the highest possible level. This allowed him to perform with Cuba's most famous musicians and bands.


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200
Album Review

Coto Pincheira: The Sonido Moderno Project

Read "The Sonido Moderno Project" reviewed by Raul d'Gama Rose


Coto Pincheira, as Julio Alejandro Pincheira Cubillos prefers being called, has made an enthusiastic impression with The Sonido Moderno Project, literally, the Modern Sound Project. This virtuoso pianist, to whom clave comes naturally, has attempted to pour this rollicking backbeat into a cauldron set alight by the vast number of Afro-Caribbean metaphors and rhythms. The result is a molten mix that gathers momentum from Cuba and from Chile, as well as half a dozen other South American musical traditions. To ...

234
Take Five With...

Take Five With Coto Pincheira

Read "Take Five With Coto Pincheira" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Coto Pincheira:Chilean-born pianist Coto Pincheira is an internationally experienced pianist and musical leader with over 20 years of education and experience. He plays a variety of musical styles which include but are not limited to classical, jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, Cuban salsa, and pop music. Coto Pincheira & The Sonido Moderno Project released a brand new CD with music from the Bay area to the whole world.

Coto started his studies of music at ...

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114

Recording

Download Two Free MP3 Tracks from Pianist Coto Pincheira

Download Two Free MP3 Tracks from Pianist Coto Pincheira

Source: Michael Ricci

An AAJ exclusive!

Familiarize yourself with pianist Coto Pincheira's music by downloading two free MP3s from his latest release The Sonido Moderno Project.

Coto Pincheira Moves to New York! Latin jazz pianist Coto Pincheira has relocated to Brooklyn, NY after living and recording in the Bay Area for the last several years. “It has been and amazing experience living in the Bay Area--I had the privilege to work with talented musicians and received tremendous support from radio hosts, festival organizers ...

213

Interview

Focusing the Spotlight: A Little Bit More About Coto Pincheira

Focusing the Spotlight: A Little Bit More About Coto Pincheira

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz

Our current Spotlight Artist, Coto Pincheira brings a cutting edge modern Latin Jazz sound to the forefront of his compositions through his current release The Sonido Moderno Project. He combines the best elements of fusion, Afro-Cuban music, and jazz improvisation into an intriguing mix, proving that the Latin Jazz world holds plenty of room for innovation. He integrates the influence of modern Cuban music, reflecting ideas from Irakere, Mezcla, and a number of contemporary timba bands. These inspirations come from ...

The long awaited debut album by Bay Area pianist/keyboardist, Coto Pincheira, is a marvel of synthesized electric jazz fusion blended with Afro-Cuban percussion and rhythm. From Chile originally, Coto moved as a teen to Cuba to study music. His journey led him to a variety of gigs including a steady job playing at the Tropicana. It was a time in Cuba around the late 1970s when Chucho Valdes and Emiliano Salvador were integrating synthesizers into the Cuban mix. It served as a profound influence for Coto as this album shows. With some of the SF Bay's best, Coto delivers intriguing music with high caliber musicality. "Suite 301" opens and contains three distinct parts that evoke different moods and texture. One minute Coto is grooving on keys ala Return to Forever as he pours out cascades of electrified melodic lines while the next he is playing on a acoustic grand with a jazzy classical feel. Dave McNab rocks out on guitar on "Postive Influences" for the first part before Coto digs in for another great acoustic piano solo, this time over an upbeat straight-ahead hard bop beat. "Danzon For A Night" (features special guests Alfredo De La Fe and Orestes Vilato) and "Wendy's Ballad" slows things down beautifully for an intimate portrayal of Coto's musical gifts. "Tribute To A Generation" should have been called Tribute To Irakere as the tune gets terrific treatment from the horn section who impeccably perform the complicated syncopated melodies with precision and swing. "A Chileno In Havana" is a funky backbeat boogaloo that is highlighted by a blistering trumpet solo by Mike Olmos and closes out a remarkable album by a remarkable musician. (JV)

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

San Francisco

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Photos

Music

Suite 301

From: Coto Pincheira & The Sonido...
By Coto Pincheira

Tribute To A Generation

From: Coto Pincheira & The Sonido...
By Coto Pincheira

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