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Juan Pastor

Percussionist and Composer

About Me

Juan D. Pastor Jazz and Percussion Performer, Educator

I began studying percussion under the tutelage of Eusebio Sirio “Pititi,” master of Afro-Peruvian percussion. At the Concervatorio Nacional de Lima, I studied classical music for five years.

After realizing my interest in jazz, I moved to Chicago to study at Northern Illinois University where I received a Bachelor of Music and was part of the top jazz ensemble under the direction of Ronald Carter. I also studied under Greg Beyer, Rich Holly and Robert Chappell. In 2013 I received my Masters of Music from DePaul University studying under Dana Hall. During my tenure there, I was a TA in the jazz department under the direction of Bob Lark.

I have played jazz festivals all over the world, in Europe at the North Sea Jazz Festival, IAJE in New York, The Chicago Jazz Fest , The Lima Jazz Fest, Nicaraguan Jazz Fest and more. In addition, I have had the honor of playing with notable recording artists such as Howard Leavy, Jimmy Heath, Fareed Haque, Patricia Barber, Ryan Cohan, The Chicago Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble CALJE, Ian Torres Big Band, Marquis Hill, Victor Garcia, and many others.

Currently I am an adjunct music faculty member at Benedictine University and a Percussion instructor for the After-School Partnership Program at DePaul University. In 2011, I was commissioned by Elmhurst College to write a piece for the percussion ensemble. The piece, “Tiene Picante,” integrates traditional rhythms from Peru with a more traditional percussion flavor.

Chinchano is my band - a fusion of jazz and Peruvian rhythms.

Contact Me

My Jazz Story

Chinchano, the story: When I was growing up in Lima, Peru, my home was always alive with music. I learned to play traditional Peruvian folk music percussion from my family and the many Lima musicians I was able to play with. When I heard Jazz for the first time, I was amazed, and knew I wanted to learn to play it. Since I had very few Jazz resources in Peru, I decided in 2006 that if I really wanted to learn I should relocate to Chicago, so I made the move. It was here in Chicago, playing and touring with many great Jazz musicians, that I was inspired to record my original music, and start my own band, Chinchano. I quickly realized that my original music reflected my diverse life experience, and the many different people and places I had learned from. I was writing for a Jazz quintet, and employing Jazz forms, structures, and harmonies, but I found myself using many Peruvian folk rhythmic styles. Peruvian folk music is very diverse: there are Afro-Peruvian styles, like Landó, Festejo, and Marinera, Andean styles like Huayno that date back to Inca Empire times, and Spanish-influenced styles like Vals Peruano, and my original music reflects all of these styles. So here you have Chinchano: a folk-music upbringing in Lima meets the fast-paced Chicago jazz scene. My experience as a curious Peruvian musician being joined by some of Chicago's finest Jazz musicians to perform the music from my life experience.