Carlos Maldonado
About Me
Multi-Percussionist,Arranger and Composer born and raised in Carolina,Puerto Rico.Carlos
is a talented young musician who stands out brilliantly in the music world as a hand
percussionist,vibraphonist and drummer.Mr. Maldonado acquired his B.M. in Symphonic
Percussion from the Puerto Rico Music Conservatory and his M.A. in Jazz Arranging and
Performance from The Aaron Copland School of Music in New York.
He began playing timbales at age of 12 talent inherited from his father who was a salsa
“timbalero” in the 70’s. At age 14 he started doing his first gigs with masterful “sonero”
Cano Estremera, World music band “Millo Torres y El Tercer Planeta”, Plena Libre and salsa
band “La PVC”. His formal musical education began at age 15 at the School of Arts in
Carolina, Puerto Rico. Carlos big break came with superstar Victor Manuelle in a stint that
last for 5 years giving him the opportunity to travel all around the world and perform in
many prestigious platforms as Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the 2007 Latin
Grammy’s CBS T.V. Broadcast for 6.2 millions of viewers.
During his career Mr.Maldonado have been blessed with the opportunity of sharing stage
with international artist and orchestras from many different genres such as : Eddie
Palmieri, David Sanchez, Alex Acuña, Wynton Marsalis, Regina Carter, Justo Almario, Ray
Vega, Steve Khan, John Benitez Group, Christos Rafalides, La India, Nestor Torres, Chris
Washburne Syotos, Ray Santos, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montañez, Pleneros de la 21, Puerto
Rico Symphony Orchestra, Bronx Art Ensemble, Gary Morgan‘s Panamericana, Giovanni
Hidalgo, William Cepeda , Andy and Jerry Gonzalez, Gilberto SantaRosa, Luis “Perico” Ortiz,
Don Omar, Tego Calderon, Cuco Peña, Jose Lugo y Guasabara, Orq.Mulenze, Orq.
Olivencia, Segio George, Fabio Morguera, Oscar Cartaya Enclave, Zaccai Curtis , Mario Ortiz
BigBand, Rey Ruiz,Tony Vega, Jerry Medina, Isidro Infante, Mayito Rivera, Gian Marco,
Bobby Valentin, Millie Quezada and many other great artist.
Since arriving to New York in 2009 ,Carlos Maldonado became a band member of the
legendary Afro-Rican jazz ensemble of composer/trombonist Papo Vazquez and The Pirate
Troubadours.In recent years Carlos also has won acknowledgment for his work as an
musical arranger an composer for various musical settings in NYC. Recently Mr. Maldonado
join the prestigious Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra of Arturo O’Farrill that have home at the
legendary Birdland Jazz Club.He is also an exclusive artist for Meinl Percussion and Meinl
Cymbals since 2003.
