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Rafael Zaldivar
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After taking up percussion and piano at age of 10, Zaldivar pursued his studies at the Higher Institute of Arts in Havana in 2002. Once Zaldivar came to Canada at the age of 22 in 2005, he completed a B.A. from the Université de Montréal in 2009, and an M.A. from McGill University in 2011 in only three years. From then on his musical career flourished, bringing him opportunities to work with such excellent Americans musicians as Barry Harris, Kenny Barron, Greg Osby, and Herbie Hancock. In recent years, Zaldivar has participated in many international jazz festivals, including the Jazz Festival, Rochester (New York); the Jazz Festival of Querétaro (Mexico) in 2013; the Festival Jazz North Sea (Holland) in 2011, among others. In 2013, Zaldivar had the honor of being personally invited to Boston’s Bean Town Jazz Festival by American jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, and had the chance to share the stage with the renowned international artist, who recently won a Grammy with her Mosaic project. He has also played with international American stars Steve Coleman, Francisco Mela, Nate Smith, and Greg Osby.Zaldivar’s skills as an art director, pianist and composer have enabled him to build and solidify his career on the Canadian jazz scene, as well as internationally. His music has already received much acclaim: his first release, Life Directions disc won the prestigious Prix Opus, Grand Prix Musical Archambault, and CBC prizes in 2011. In 2013, his sophomore album, Drawing, was nominated for ADISQ and JUNO awards in the category "Best Contemporary Jazz Album." The granting agencies, Musicaction, the Conseil Québécois de la Musique, and The Arts Council of Canada, have also made him member of their peer evaluation committees on various occasions. Zaldivar had the honor of opening for Joe Lovano Us Five and joining legendary trio of John Scofield, drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Scott Colley, as opening act on their tour of Quebec in 2013. Zaldivar has enjoyed opportunities to play with many principal Canadian jazz musicians, including pianist Oliver Jones, saxophonists Rémi Bolduc and Jane Bunnett, to name a few. Rafael Zaldivar is currently completing a Doctorate in Music at McGill University, teaches at Université Laval as a full time professor, and is working with an exciting group of talented musicians, Rémi-Jean LeBlanc on bass, Eugenio Osorio on percussion, and Michel Medrano on drums. Zaldivar and his quartet are set to share the exciting new project, Afro-Cuban Revival.
LocationToronto
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