CARLOS D`L PUERTO

Bassist, lecturer, composer, arranger and author, Carlos D'l Puerto was born in Cuba in 1951. He comes from a long line of outstanding bass players and after following an extensive classical training at Havana's Amadeo Roldán Conservatory, he began a professional career performing and recording with several renowned orchestras. In 1967 he joined the Cuban Modern Music Orchestra, where he met Paquito D' Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, and pianist Chucho Valdés.In 1973, they founded the legendary group, Irakere. In 1979, they earned a Grammy award from the U.S.A. Arts Academy for Best Latin Recording and they were nominated again in 1980.D'l Puerto is credited with literally redefining Cuba's musical education by introducing electric bass techniques and Cuban rhythms in the music school system. He has been awarded two of Cuba's highest honors: the Order for National Culture, and the Cuban Republic's Pedagogical Merit Award for his contributions to the development of art and education. In 1995 he received The Certificate of Appreciation by the City of Los Angeles & Certificate of Honor by the City of San Francisco, USA.He has written four books for the bass guitar techniques. His book, "The True Cuban Bass", published in 1994 by Sher Music Co. (San Francisco CA.) is used by respected conservatories, and is consider by many, as the "Latin Bass Bible". He has been the Head Teacher of bass faculty at Cuba's National School of Art, Superior Institute of Art, and he is also a faculty member at the Bass Collective in New York City. Mr. D'l Puerto was interviewed in a set of 6 CD's, for the Smithsonian Museum's (Washington), Jazz Oral History Program.D'l Puerto leads extensive clinics and master classes as a Yamaha Artist throughout the world at some of the most prestigious universities and conservatories such as Berklee College of Music, Stanford University, California Institu te of the Arts, Duke Ellington School of the Arts (U.S), Banff Centre (Canada) Musician Institute (London) Pop & Jazz Conservatory (Finland) among others.Throughout his career, he has taken part in all the world's most famous music festivals, sharing the stage with such noted celebrities as Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Brecker Brothers, etc.At Manhattan Centre, New York, D'l Puerto performed at the biggest bass event of the year, Bass Day 2000 along with some of the world-renowned bass players as Percy Hearth, Marcus Miller, Gary Willis, Anthony Jackson, Billy Sheehan, Will Lee, Oteil Burbridge, John Patitucci and Joe Osborn. In January 2001 he introduced at the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Winter Show, the Yamaha Silent bass, performing along with Al Jarreau, Brenda Russell, David Benoit, Tony Bennett & Tower of Power. At the moment Carlos is living in Finland, developing different projects as a professor, arranger and bandleader in Jazz, Latin jazz and classical music.