Cáceres

Born in Buenos Aires during the 1940s, Juan Carlos Caceres immersed himself early in the existentialist circles that animated the Argentine capital throughout his formative years. Though he pursued university studies in fine arts instead of music, Caceres had already established himself as a skilled jazz trombonist by his mid-twenties and soon integrated himself into the local jazz scene. He became a regular presence at the historic Cueva de Passarato jazz club, a venue renowned equally for its performances and for hosting gatherings of radical and existential intellectuals. Relocating to Paris in the late 1960s, Caceres explored multiple creative fields—painting, production, pedagogy, and performance foremost among them—while cultivating deep expertise in the musical traditions of the River Plate region separating Argentina and Uruguay. Through this work he helped bring wider attention to tango, murga, and candombe. His abilities expanded accordingly, securing recognition as a capable pianist, vocalist, and songwriter in addition to his established trombone playing. Celluloid Records, the French-American imprint, issued his first album, Sudacas. The follow-up, Toca Tango, showcased a non-traditional, fusion-oriented group alongside striking candombe pieces titled “Tango Negro” and the album’s namesake track. His fourth original recording, Murga Argentina, appeared on the Manana Music label. With the 2007 release Utopia, Caceres first received the nickname “The Lion,” an album celebrated for its dual achievements in performance and scholarship. Well into his sixties he sustained an active calendar of concerts and lectures.