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Ernesto Cortazar Lara

About Me

Ernesto Cortazar was born in Mexico City where he began his fascination with the guitar as a young child. By the age of ten he was playing and learning to master his instrument. He is mainly a self taught guitarist, although when he was fourteen he began three years of study at the National Conservatory of Mexico.

As an adult he lived for a while in New York City and studied with some of the greatest players that call that city home: Kurt Rosenwinkel, Wayne Krantz, Christopher Rosenberg ,. to name a few.

Ernesto has been a professional musician for more than twenty years working in live performances as well as being highly in demand as a session musician. Switzerland has been home since 2003.

From 1994 through 1996 he toured the world with Ricky Martin and has performed with Carlos Santana, Kermit Driscol and other giants of the music world.

Ernesto is one of the few guitar players in the world with the skill and talent to combine great virtuosity with an emotional depth that touches the soul of all who hear his music. His improvisations are well known for their exceptional creativity and musical flow.

Releasing two new CDs in 2009, “Signal” and “You Are Welcome” now join “Ernesto Cortazar Duo” and “Ernesto Cortazar Trio” as compilations of original compositions available in more than 200 online shops for digital downloads, including iTunes and Amazon.