Carlitos Medrano

Carlitos Medrano born in Havana, Cuba, began his musical studies by teaching himself to play Bongos and Congas using traditional Cuban music and Rumba as his guide. After a few years of studying and experience, and having participated in folkloric musical projects and timba, also known as Cuban Salsa, he decided to broaden his musical knowledge by beginning a course of musical studies in the Escuela de Superacion Profesional de Arte “Felix Varela y Morales” where he began to create his foundation for Latin Jazz fusion within other musical projects in Cuba.

He remembers with great satisfaction and happiness having been a student of famous international Cuban percussionists such as Jose Antonio Oviedo, Ignacio Jarabe Martinez, Eliel Lazo Linares, Yaroldy Abreu, José Luis Quintana, also known as Changuito. He has also had the satisfaction of meeting some of the finalists of the International Barreto en Memorian competition in Havana, Cuba, also known as La Fiesta del Tambor in 2005. He had the opportunity to play in several ‘Big Bands’ directed by Jorge Luis Triana for the inauguration and participation of the International Jazz Festival “ Jazz Plaza “ in Havana, Cuba. He worked with Cuban saxophonist, Orlando Sanchez, also known as Cuba Jazz, Danay Bautista, Bobby Carcases. Before arriving to the United States in March 2008, he worked with a well-known pianist from Cuba, Alexis Bosch.

Since then, he has been working with several bands in Sonoma County (Batacha and Carlos Herrera Band) and the Bay Area (Pellejo Seco, Delbert Bump & Sazil Band, Yancie Taylor, Jesus Diaz & Latin Ensemble, Boleros y Mas, Ruben Gonzalo, T-Mambo, Mision Barrio Project, Fito Reinoso, Tito y su Son de Cuba). He also plays with the Canadian folk band, The Duhks. Performances include: San Jose Jazz Festival; 2009 Cuba Caribe Festival held in San Francisco celebrating Cuban folklore; the 2010 San Francisco Carnival; 2011 Benecia Jazz Festival and Russian River Jazz and Blues Festival, and the 2013 Santa Rosa Junior College Cuban Music and Film Festival, Healdsburg Jazz Festival, Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Yoshi's Jazz Club.

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