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Carlos Jimenez

Carlos Jimenez is an extraordinary flute player, vocalist and band leader of jazz, Latin jazz and salsa.

About Me

Carlos Jimenez is an extraordinary flute player and vocalist, as well as composer and band leader of Jazz, Latin Jazz and Salsa. Born in Yonkers, New York, his family moved to Villaba, Puerto Rico when he was six years old. It was there that his musical training began. From a young age, Carlos had an aptitude for percussion and played timbales, bongos and congas. His first lyrical instrument was trumpet, which he studied under Professor Pablo Leon at Francisco Zayas Santana High School. Carlos soon changed his instrument to flute, feeling inspired listening to the music of Mongo Santamaria and how he utilized the flute in his arrangements. He performed with his school’s big band throughout the Island. Thus began his early days as a flutist and his passion for the instrument. Carlos returned to New York as a young adult to pursue his dream of becoming a jazz flutist.

He began studying classical flute at the Music Conservatory of Westchester under Dave Fenucane before expanding his repertoire to include jazz studying privately with master musicians Mario Rivera; Dave Valentin; Bobby Porcelli; Mitch Frohman; Vinnie Rickitelli; Rolando Briseno and Enrique Fernandez. A few years later, he studied harmony and voicings with master pianist, Mike Longo as well as Alfredo Valdes Jr. and Hilton Ruiz.

To date, Carlos has recorded nine albums of his own compositions and arrangements. As in a fantastic dream come true, some of the very musicians who inspired him as a kid have participated in these recordings: Hilton Ruiz; Oscar Hernandez; Stephane Ronget; David Schnitter; Edy Martinez; Dave Valentin; Sonny Bravo ; Eddie Montalvo; Nicky Marrero; Lewis Kahn; Bobby Porcelli; Alfredo Valdes Jr. ; Hector Martignon; Ruben Rodriguez; and Vince Cherico.

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because... its beautiful music and its also spiritual, sentimental and inspiring. I was first exposed to jazz... when my dad used to play the trumpet. he would play Miles Davis kind of blue I met [musician name]... recorded with Hilton Ruiz, David Schnitter, Dave Valentin. I met and perform with Barry Harris, Lee Roy William, Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Earl May and more.. I only met, Roy Haynes, Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann, MCcoy Tyner, Eddie Palmieri, and more.. The best show I ever attended was... The first jazz record I bought was... My advice to new listeners... Or whatever else you have in mind.