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Billy Carrion Jr

From jazz, latin jazz, funk, classical, to anything music: Billy Carrion Jr is the fierce and powerful baritone sax player you NEED to hear.

About Me

Yanagisawa saxophone artist Billy Carrión Jr. never attended a music prep course, music camps, or a major musical school; instead it was passion, and hard work that has driven Billy's young 15 year career. Although baritone saxophone is his main voice, Billybcan be seen performing on as many as 13 instruments, and even a custom effects board developed for the baritone saxophone, dubbed 'The Harmonic Weapon.' Going the “old school route,” Billy used the music of the past, along with his logic to learn, and earn his way into musics elite performers, instead of the more traditional lessons, and various music programs. Despite those things, he has managed to record and perform with some amazing musicians in many genres including Eddie Palmieri – Latin Jazz & La Perfecta , Ray Barretto, Henry Cole & The Afrobeat Collective, Los Pleneros De La 21, Jerry Medina y la Banda, Papo Vazquez, Ned Sublette, Victor Manuelle, Andy Montanez, Quincy Jones' artist Alfredo Rodriguez, Joe Magnarelli, Giovanni Hidalgo, David Oquemdo, among others

Current running ensembles include: • Three Free Billy Carrión Jr., Jon Di Fiore and Luke Celenza have been performing music for years. Their long-standing friendship is the tie that binds them together. They represent a strong collective thread from years of playing in Big Bands, traditional Piano Trio and even a Free Jazz Quintet.

This time, they've formed a new Ensemble stripped back to baritone saxophone, keyboards/piano, and drums. They've also written new “themes and vibes” that play to each other’s musical personalities.

Billy Carrión Jr. - baritone saxophone Luke Celenza - piano/Nord Jon Di Fiore - Drums

• The Hidden Jazz Collective (trio/quintet) An electric jazz ensemble dedicated to the influence of “electric jazz”. We take electronic sounds long forgotten from Weather Report, Return To Forever, bring them into modern ears with throuh originals of jazz's up and coming artists with a groove twist.

Campbell Charshee - Nord, Sunrizer, NESynth German Gonzalez - Guitars Billy Carrión Jr. - Bass, Effects Jon Di Fiore - Drums Carlos Maldonado - Congas, Percussion • The Rican Rebels Billy's Roots to the world ensemble. Taking everything he has learned, he joins with some of the best musicians Puerto Rico Has to Offer, and performs a blend of Puerto Rican Roots, electronic soundscapes, and melodies and rhythms from around the world to create a unique sonic experience.

Billy Carrión Jr. - Baritone Saxophone, 'Harmonic Weapon' Javi Perez - Guitars Jorge 'Bebo' Rivera - Keyboards, Sunrizer, NESynth 'Goldo' Luis Rodriguez - Bass Efrain Martinez - Drums Daniel Diaz -Congas, Percussion Beto Torrens - Baríl, World Percussion Billy's notable performances: • Puerto Rico Heineken Jazzfest • The Stone Pony • Exit 0 International Jazz Festival • Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola • Chick Corea Festival • Birdland • Caramoor Jazz Festival • CBGB • River to River Festival • Sullivan Hall • Light of Day Festival • The Bitter End • The Toro Y Salsa Festival • Somethin Jazz Club • Hat City Kitchen • Tomi Jazz • Symphony Space • 92nd Street Y

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it is a style of music where instant creativity is accepted I was first exposed to jazz through hip hop and my family I met a lot of people in my time so far The best show I ever attended was Ray Barretto with Kenny Garrett The first jazz record I bought was Jerry Gonzalez - Ya Yo Me Cure My advice to new listeners is to be open minded and respect the fact that it takes hard work to achieve even the simplest sounding bars of music.