I am a Yonkers, native of Puerto Rican descent. I am Twenty-seven years old. My first experience with music was at the age of 4, playing those two note melodies of " So What", a Miles Davis Composition, with my Father's old trumpet. I am very grateful to my Dad for exposing me to Jazz and Latin Jazz. Jazz has a mysterious and endless undertaking and when studying it you learn that it can be approached in many different ways; and I am grateful that I was born listening to it. My first music lessons were at the age of 10 with my first teacher Mr. Pablo Leon at the Francisco Zayas Santana's high school in Puerto Rico. Since my father introduced me to trumpet, I continued with the trumpet to be part of the school's band. At the end of that same year I heard a song that really inspired me to switch from trumpet to flute and that particular song was, "Song for You", performed by a great flautist Mr. Bobby Porcelli, which was performed on Mongo Santamaria's album titled "Afro-Indio". For this reason I decided to ask my teacher to teach me how to play the flute and that's exactly what he did. He taught me how to hold it and how to create the first sound, which was the most important element. At the age of twelve, I was involved in percussion, that means: Congas, Bongos, and Timbales. This happened because both my brother and cousin played those particular instruments. At thirteen I took a break from music to pursue basketball. I played on my schools' Varsity team and the city's Juvenile team as well. I played basketball until I graduated from high school. After graduating I decided to come back to the city where I was born, Yonkers, New York. At the age of nineteen, my dad knowing about my desire to play the flute, came home for Christmas with a gift, a silver plated Yamaha flute. That was the greatest gift of all and since that day, I cannot stop playing it. At the age of, twenty-one I met a very important person, Roger, owner of Moon Curser, an old record shop at City Island in the Bronx. Roger guided me to the King of Latin Jazz, Mr. Tito Puente, because I was always listening and buying Tito Puente's record. It brings me joy to remember that Mr. Tito Puente was the first famous musician that I had ever met. Mr. Roger told me to take one of Tito Puente's albums, so, my dad and I chose Dance Mania, and after that, he asked me, " Would you like to get it signed?" I said, " Yeah". He said, " Hurry up to his restaurant because he's there right now!" And that's how I met Tito Puente. He signed the album and I spoke to him about my desire to become a flautist and he suggested that I should go to see him play at Purchase college on December 19, 1998. Before I went to Purchase College Mr. Roger took me to see my first piano teacher, Hilton Ruiz at Defemios Restaurant in Yonkers. At Purchase College, I met my first Flute teacher in New York, Mitch Frohman one of Tito Puente's saxophone and flute players. Mitch Frohman has always been a great guy; he gave me a few lessons and then introduced me and recommended me to continue lessons with Mario Rivera, another great saxophone and flute player, who recorded with the greatest big bands in the Latin scene, including Dizzy Gillespie's all-stars. Mario has been a great guide and teacher until this date. He then introduced me to Mr. Bobby Porcelli. Bobby was the flute player that inspired me to be a flautist, so I was very grateful for that opportunity. Bobby Porcelli has been a great friend, teacher, and member of my band and first recording. In addition to those I mentioned above, here are some of the people that were instrumental to my development as an artist. I would like to mention Jose Fajardo, one the best Cuban flute players, ever. Jose, has been a great friend and guided me as well, and thanks to him I met Andy Gonzalez, who gave me Dave Valentin's phone number. Dave Valentin, who in my humble opinion, is one of the best Flute players in the world, Grammy Award winner, and the list goes on. With Dave, I attended three lessons in parallel with my other teacher Mr. Rivera. Mr.Valentin has been a great supporter and provided guidance in my musical career. I would also like to mention Mr. Mike Longo, my current piano teacher and great friend. Thanks to him I have consolidated another of my passions, composing. In these last two years my knowledge of music, coupled with the desire to compose gave me the confident to create my first compositions, eight of which are on my first CD titled "Arriving" which has been very well accepted by great musicians including my friends and colleagues (Hilton Ruiz, Dave Valentin, Bobby Porcelli, Lewis Kahn, John Walsh, Bernie Minoso, Victor Venega, Adam Weber, Jimmy Delgado, Dave Braham, Harvie S, Eddie Allen, Aryam Vazquez, Ray Vega, Geoff Brennan, Greg August, Mike Longo and Adela Dalto, great vocalist, who gave me my first major gig at the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City) together with all these musicians I have had the opportunity to shared stages and great experiences.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.carlosjimenez.netTrack List:
1. Tomando Cafe -
2. Flute & Violin -
3. Natalie's Cha Cha Cha -
4. Arriving -
5. Tunnel of Flowers -
6. My Allison -
7. Que Paso? -
8. So What -
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