Biography
Edmar Castañeda, a harpist born in Colombia who later settled in New York, has earned recognition as a virtuoso whose innovative approach merges the South American folk tradition joropo with jazz and additional Latin genres. Born in 1978 in Bogota, Colombia, he is the son of Pavelid Castañeda, a noted harpist, composer, singer, and educator. Music drew his attention early; as a child he joined joropo dance classes, then took up the harp and the cuatro guitar near age 13. A gifted trumpeter as well, he relocated to the United States in the mid-'90s to pursue jazz studies at Five Towns College in Dix Hills, New York.
During his college years he began transferring his jazz knowledge to the harp, supplying basslines with his left hand while shaping melodies with his right. Regular attendance at jam sessions brought favorable notice once he sat in with Cuban-born saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera and Puerto Rican tres guitarist Nelson González. Appearances with a range of established artists followed, among them Sting, Wynton Marsalis, Lila Downs, Chico O'Farrill, and Paco de Lucia.
Castañeda launched his solo career in 2006 with Cuarto de Colores, an album that spotlighted his vivid fusion of Colombian joropo, flamenco, and jazz and included guest contributions from D'Rivera and percussionist Pedrito Martinez. He subsequently recorded alongside Janis Siegel, Arturo Romay, and Taylor Eigsti before issuing his second album, Entre Cuerdas, in 2009. That release featured his wife, vocalist Andrea Tierra, trombonist Marshall Gilkes, vibraphonist Joe Locke, and other musicians.
In 2011 he released Double Portion, which placed him in solo and duo contexts with pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, bandolinist Hamilton de Holando, and saxophonist Miguel Zenon. The concert recording Live at the Jazz Standard appeared in 2015, marking the debut of his expansive World Ensemble. Two years later he collaborated with Japanese pianist Hiromi on Live in Montreal.
During his college years he began transferring his jazz knowledge to the harp, supplying basslines with his left hand while shaping melodies with his right. Regular attendance at jam sessions brought favorable notice once he sat in with Cuban-born saxophonist Paquito D'Rivera and Puerto Rican tres guitarist Nelson González. Appearances with a range of established artists followed, among them Sting, Wynton Marsalis, Lila Downs, Chico O'Farrill, and Paco de Lucia.
Castañeda launched his solo career in 2006 with Cuarto de Colores, an album that spotlighted his vivid fusion of Colombian joropo, flamenco, and jazz and included guest contributions from D'Rivera and percussionist Pedrito Martinez. He subsequently recorded alongside Janis Siegel, Arturo Romay, and Taylor Eigsti before issuing his second album, Entre Cuerdas, in 2009. That release featured his wife, vocalist Andrea Tierra, trombonist Marshall Gilkes, vibraphonist Joe Locke, and other musicians.
In 2011 he released Double Portion, which placed him in solo and duo contexts with pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, bandolinist Hamilton de Holando, and saxophonist Miguel Zenon. The concert recording Live at the Jazz Standard appeared in 2015, marking the debut of his expansive World Ensemble. Two years later he collaborated with Japanese pianist Hiromi on Live in Montreal.
Albums
