Alvaro Cardenas Jr.

Saxophone player, composer, arranger, producer and singer.Born in Cartagena, Colombia in 1967, began his musical career and studies of the saxophone at the age of 14 next to his father, the musician and composer Colombian Alvaro Cardenas Roman. Since he was very Small liked listening to music as "the Glen Miller Big Band" "Sonora Matancera in Cuba" "Pacho Galan Orchestra" "Lucho Bermudez" of Colombia among others.From age 16He did participate with many groups of salsa and tropical music of northern Colombia, by this time also began to explore the concepts of jazz and instrumental music from musicians such as: Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Don Bays, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Grover Whashington, jr. Justo Almario, Paquito D'Rivera, Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer among other,these great masters gave Alvaro Cardenas, jr. many routes of research, exploration and isnpiracion.Travelling by road and ...In the 22 years he travel to Europe with its own band of salsa called "Equiano" had the opportunity to repeat this tour (mainly in Madrid Spain) three consecutive years, ending these tours was invited with his group "Equiano" for the inauguration of a famous cruise in Panama sharing the stage with well-known jazz pianist and Latin Jazz, who participated for many years with the legendary Dizzy Gillespie, Danilo Perez. Alvaro for that time received many private lessons and music teacher as: Justo Almario, Carlos Averoff, Juan Alvarez, Danilo Perez, Roberto Perez, Tim Wallen Remberto Sotomayor, Antonio Maria Peñaloza among others.Some Latin Jazz ...In autumn of 1998 recorded his first album of latin jazz solo, called "Valentina" songs as Japonesita, Valentina, Sonny Viejo, Baby Bop, were the acceptance of critics, took a small appreciation in an interview with Justo Almario The magasin specializes in Jazz "Down Beat." Moreover, was honoured to be invited to special master of the saxophone Colombiano: Justo Almario who is well known not only in the world of jazz but in the Latino world, has been at Almario Next to super-known figures such as Mongo Santamaria, Machito, Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Charles Mingus, Freddy Hubbard.Other important figures who participated in that album are Rene Betancourth ..boards, who is a major producer and Colombian bassist Alex Duke a few years since that is working with figures of the sauce as Marc Anthony, Alberto Barros, Gilberto Santarosa among others.With the formation of "Valentina" he participate in several concerts and jazz festivals including "Jazz bajo la Luna" and "Barranquijazz" which is the most important jazz festival in Colombia and some of the best in the World. (www.barranquijazz . com) there excenarios shared with musicians of the stature of Paquito D'Rivera, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Chucho Valdez, Buena Vista Social Club.among others.Tour Asia...At the end of 1999 he received invitation for a Malsia Agency to conduct a tour of Asia throughout 2000, beginning with China after Beijing Bangkok Thailand, Taiwan Island, New Delhi India, Singapore, Borneo Island, Nanjing China among others, were cities Copart America and enjoyed the music brought by Alvaro Cardenas, jr. and his group.Based in Shanghai, China.In the summer of 2001 receive calls for a trio of Latin Jazz to the beautiful city of Shanghai at the JC.Mandarin and The Shangri-la there was 10 months playing and knowing the environment of jazz of ciudad.after another tour of a year and finally will be settled in 2003 in this city that has been his home ever since. In early 2004 launched an album that contains all his experience during that time traveling in Asia and the nostalgia of being separated from his homeland Colombia, entitled "On the Road" in that album involving many musicians from all over the world, but it is a tribute to the Colombian music and its extensive Folck music. The launch of the album took place at the famous hotel "Four Seasson" Shanghai has become the first Latin Jazz musicians who recorded in China. Since its establishment in Shanghai Alvaro has been a member of several Jazz Big bands, is a member of the Jazz Orchestra's master Rolf Backer of Germany,JZ CLUB All stars BIG BAND has been involved with the Jazz Orchestra of the Shanghai Symphony as well as small groups: group LATINOIDE Brazilian influence, Jazz and Salsa is direcctor musical "Latin SHANGHAI PROJECT" considered one of the groups of Salsa and Latin Jazz most famous in Asia. Likewise is producer and director of the famous Orchestra Colombo-China "Mandarina China Band"(www.myspace.com / mandarinachinaband)which is a mixture of Salsa with key participation of Chinese singers and instruments with a modern twist and dance, makes this training is very attractive and commercially. This orchestra has toured China and Colombia. in the summer of 2006 participate in Barranquijazz, Heredia Theater in the city of Cartagena and launched in the city of Bogota Colombia. This orchestra has done so far two albums "Listening to the sea" And refreshments''salsa''the latter was launched in February in Miami USA, under the label recording UMG Union Music Group.As Producer is preparing an album of Latin jazz and salsa beside his brother and collaborator Alberto Cardenas, who is an experienced Pianist Latino and has had much influence and musical contribution not only in "Mandarina China Band" but as in other groups and character salcero Latino in Colombia and Asia. In early 2008 receive calls from "The Shanghai jazz Big band" to participate in two concerts as Musical Director with a format of 12 musicians, as a special evening for the Chinese new year and as another special concert for the office "Shanghai Expo 2010" where he was responsible for a settlement "Latin version" some of the musical theme chosen for the Expo 2010 Shanghai. "Legends of the City"Alvaro since few years has been devoted to teaching and instruction of technique and study of the Saxophone, has been carefully preparing a method that aims to help develop and improve the technique and how to interpret this fabulous instrument, taking mainly the latino musician.he also lead an Ensemble of Latin & Latin Jazz for the school jazz JZ School.Saxofonista,compositor,arreglista,productor y cantante.Nacido en Cartagena Colombia en 1967,Comenzo su carrera musical y estudios del saxofon a los 14 años de edad al lado de su padre el tambien musico y compositor Colombiano Alvaro Cardenas Roman. Desde que era muy pequenio gustaba de escuchar musica como “ the Glen Miller Big Band” “la Sonora Matancera de Cuba” “Pacho Galan Orquesta” “Lucho Bermudez” de Colombia entre otros.Desde los 16 añosParticipo con muchos grupos de salsa y musica tropical del norte de Colombia, para ese entonces comenzaba a estudiar los conceptos del Jazz y la musica instrumental de musicos como: Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Don Bays, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Grover Whashington,jr. Justo Almario,Paquito D’ Rivera,Michael Brecker,Bob Mintzer entre otros.todos estos grandes maestros dieron a Alvaro Cardenas,jr. muchas rutas de investigacion,exploracion e isnpiracion.Viajando y haciendo camino...A los 22 años viajo a Europa con su propio grupo de salsa llamado “Equiano” tuvo la oportunidad de repetir esta gira (principalmente a Madrid Espana) tres anos consecutivos, finalizando esas giras fue invitado con su grupo “Equiano” a la inaguracion de un famoso crucero en Panama compartiendo tarima con el bien conocido pianista de Jazz y Latin Jazz quien participara por muchos anos con el legendario Dizzy Gillespie, Danilo Perez. Alvaro para esa epoca recibio muchas clases privadas y maestras de musicos como:Justo Almario, Carlos Averoff,juan Alvarez, Danilo Perez,Roberto Perez,Tim Wallen Remberto Sotomayor, Antonio Maria Peñaloza entre otros.Algo de Latin Jazz...En Otoño del año 1998 registra su primer album de latin jazz como solista,llamado “Valentina” temas como Japonesita,Valentina,Viejo Sonny,Baby Bop,fueron de la aceptacion de la critica especializada,tuvo un pequeño reconocimiento en una entrevista realizada a Justo Almario en el magasine especializado de Jazz “Down Beat” .ademas,tuvo el honor de tener invitado especial al maestro del saxofon Colombiano: Justo Almario quien es muy conocido no solo en el mundo del Jazz sino en el mundo Latino, Almario ha estado al lado de figuras super conocidas como: Mongo Santamaria, Machito, Tito Puente, Poncho Sanchez, Charles Mingus, Freddy Hubbard.Otras figuras importantes que participaron en ese album son Rene Betancourth en los teclados, quien es un gran productor Colombiano y el Bajista Alex Duque que desde algunos anos esta trabajando con figuras de la salsa como Marc Anthony,Alberto Barros,Gilberto Santarosa entre otros.Con la formacion de “Valentina” participo en varios conciertos y Festivales de jazz entre ellos “Jazz bajo La Luna ” y en “Barranquijazz” que es el festival de Jazz mas importante de Colombia y unos de los mejores del Mundo.(www.barranquijazz.com ) ahí compartio excenarios con musicos de la talla de Paquito D’Rivera,Gonzalo Rubalcaba,Chucho Valdez,Buena Vista Social Club.entre otros.Gira por Asia.A finales del año 1999 recibio invitacion por una Agencia de Malsia para realizar una gira por Asia durante todo el 2000 comenzando por Beijing China luego Bangkog Thailandia,Taiwan Isla,Nueva Deli India,Singapore,Borneo Isla,Nanjing China entre otras,fueron ciudades que copartieron y disfrutaron la musica Latina traida por Alvaro Cardenas,jr. y su grupo.Radicado en Shanghai China.En el verano del 2001 recibio llamado para un trio de Latin Jazz a la hermosa Ciudad de Shanghai en el Hotel JcMandarin Y Shangrila ahí estuvo 10 meses tocando y conociendo el ambiente jazzcistico de la ciudad.luego se ausento por otra gira de un anio y finalmente se radico en el 2003 en esta ciudad que ha sido su hogar desde entonces. A principios del 2004 lanzo un album que recoge toda su experiencia durante todo ese tiempo viajando por Asia y la nostalgia de estar separado de su tierra natal Colombia,titulado “On the Road”(por el camino...) en ese album participan muchos musicos de todas partes del mundo,pero es un homenaje a la musica Colombiana y su extenso folcklor. El lanzamiento del album tuvo lugar en el famoso hotel “Four Seasson” de Shanghai, convirtiendose asi en el Primer Musico que graba Latin Jazz en China. Desde su radicacion en Shanghai Alvaro ha sido miembro de varias Jazz Big bands,es miembro de la Orquesta de jazz del maestro Rolf Backer de Alemania, ha participado con la Orquesta de jazz de la Sinfonica de Shanghai tambien como de grupos pequenos como: LATINOIDE grupo de influencia Brasilera, Jazz y Salsa, es direcctor musical de “SHANGHAI LATINO PROJECT” considerado como uno de los grupos de Latin Jazz y Salsa mas famoso de Asia.Asi mismo es productor y director de la famosa Orquesta Colombo- China “Mandarina China Band” www.myspace.com/mandarinachinaband que es una mezcla de Salsa con participacion esencial de cantantes e instrumentos chinos con un toque moderno y bailable, que hace que esta formacion sea muy atractiva y comercial. Con esta orquesta ha tenido giras por China y Colombia en el verano del 2006 participo en el Barranquijazz,Teatro Heredia de la ciudad de Cartagena y Lanzamiento en la ciudad de Bogota Colombia. Esta Orquesta ha realizado hasta el momento dos albumes “ESCUCHA EL MAR" Y ''REFRESCANDO LA SALSA'' este ultimo fue lanzado en el mes de Febrero en Miami USA, bajo el sello discografico UMG Union Music Group.Como Productor se encuentra preparando un album de Latin Jazz y Salsa al lado de su hermano y colaborador Alberto Cardenas quien es un experimentado Pianista Latino y ha tenido mucha influencia y aporte musical no solo en Mandarina China Band sino como en otras agrupaciones de carácter salcero y latino en Colombia y Asia.A principio 2008 recibio llamado de La Shanghai jazz band para participar en dos conciertos con un formato de 12 musicos,uno como velada especial para el ano nuevo Chino y otro como concierto especial para la oficina de "Expo Sahanghai 2010" donde fue encargado de hacer un arreglo "version latina" a unos de los temas musicales escogidos para la Expo Shanghai 2010."Leyend of the City"Alvaro desde algunos años se ha estado dedicando a la ensenanza e instrucción de la tecnica y estudio del Saxofon, ha estado minuciosamente preparando un metodo que pretende ayudar al desarrollo y mejoramiento de la tecnica y la manera de interpretar este fabuloso instrumento, teniendo como principalmente dirigido al musico latino.Actualmente dirige una Ensemble de Latin & Latin Jazz para la escuela de jazz JZ School.