Gilbert Castellanos

Gilbert Castellanos, renowned musician, composer, curator, educator and arranger based in San Diego, is one of the hottest jazz trumpeters in the United States today.

Adept in straight-ahead, as well as Latin and Afro Cuban jazz, Castellanos has become a leading figure of the vibrant, diverse and flourishing jazz scene in America’s Finest City. An established scene-maker on the West Coast, Castellanos is the Artistic Curator of both of the San Diego Symphony's highly successful jazz series - Jazz at The Jacobs and Bayside Summer Nights - which have featured some of today's brightest stars including ‪Gregory Porter‬, Chick Corea, ‪Chucho Valdes‬, ‪Dianne Reeves‬, ‪Cecile McLorin Salvant‬, John Faddis and more.

Castellanos’ talents are also renowned in the dance community. He has been creating commissioned original music for the San Diego Ballet since 2014; the acclaimed Latin jazz infused suites - “Azuca” and “Dia de Los Muertos” - come to life movement after movement through the extraordinary choreography of SDB Artistic Director Javier Velasco. In 2017, he was officially named Resident Composer for the thriving ballet company.

In 2017, he began a new collaboration with the San Diego Museum of Art - Portraits In Jazz - a concert series that introduces the American art form to the museum’s global members and supporters. He has consistently been voted Best Jazz Artist in San Diego CityBeat’s annual Reader’s Poll (2018, 2017, 2016). At the 2013 San Diego Music Awards (SDMA), Castellanos become the first jazz artist to be awarded Artist of the Year across all genres; he is six-time SDMA Best Jazz Artist. Both of his recordings, “Underground” and “Federal Jazz Project” (in collaboration with the San Diego Repertory Theater for a musical by the same name) were recognized by SDMA as Album of the Year.

The award-winning Young Lions Jazz Conservatory (YLJC) launched in Summer 2017, was founded by Castellanos who serves as Artistic Director and is the faculty’s primary educator; mentoring the next generation of jazz is one of his greatest passions. In 2014, he launched the precursor to the YLJC, The Young Lions Series at Panama 66 at The San Diego Museum of Art, to highlight up-and-coming middle and high school jazz musicians; over 250 have been featured to date. His popular Wednesday Jazz Jam at Panama 66 is the longest running jam in the city - two decades and counting.

Castellanos has worked with world-renowned artists ‪Dizzy Gillespie‬, ‪Wynton Marsalis‬, Charlie Hayden, ‪Horace Silver‬, Oscar Hernandez, ‪Poncho Sanchez‬, ‪Diana Krall‬, ‪Willie Nelson‬, ‪Michael Buble‬, and ‪Natalie Cole‬, to name a few. He has toured nationally and internationally as a current member of the renowned ‪Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra‬.

“[Castellanos] plays with élan, evincing a more individual, ever-large sound offering hard swinging, often ear-grabbing solos…[proving] that music with deep roots in jazz’s glorious ’50s and ’60s can sound completely contemporary today.” Los Angeles Times

"I love playing music with people who light up the bandstand. That's what drew me to Gilbert. I knew we needed his voice in the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra family. I embrace every opportunity with him in sharing this music together." Jeff Hamilton, American jazz drummer and co- Director of the Clayton- Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

“Gilbert Castellanos was a true gem to have on my new CD ”The Art of Latin Jazz.” In my opinion, he is one of the top trumpet players on the scene today. His playing was brilliant, and he added just the spark that took the music to another level.” Oscar Hernandez, Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer and band leader of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra. (2017)

“He’s just good for the city, because he involves himself. He’s always looking for ways to expose jazz to a larger audience, and in particular, the youth. That’s admirable because everyone doesn’t have a gift for doing that, or even wanting to. He wants to get involved. He’s smart and dynamic, and on top of all that, he’s a wonderful player.” Bebop legend Charles McPherson (2017)

“I will never forget the first time that I saw Gilbert at the 1994 Monterey Jazz Festival, where he was playing with the landmark West Coast young lions group, Black/Note. I could not have been more thrilled when Gilbert moved to San Diego a few months later and I had my first chance to work with him. It seems like from the very beginning he was a catalyst for bringing together and growing the San Diego jazz community. I began to see so many more young people at Athenaeum jazz concerts, people who were on fire about the music because of Gilbert’s weekly jam sessions. I don’t think we can overestimate the influence he has had on several generations of listeners and players in this community. And now he is carrying on this mission year-round with the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory. As an artist, Gilbert clearly belongs among the top trumpeters who are keeping the tradition alive and vital. Gilbert certainly deserves to be recognized on the national stage and we are so fortunate to have him as a leader in our own jazz community.” Daniel Atkinson, Jazz Program Coordinator-San Diego Athenaeum Music & Arts Library; Founder-UCSD Jazz Camp (2017)

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