Carlos P.

Carlos is a Colombian musician, proficient in acoustic and electric bass, as well as a composer and arranger, currently based in the United States. As a group member, session player, and touring musician, has contributed to over 20 albums spanning a diverse range of musical genres, including Rock, Pop, Ska, Reggae, Funk, Punk, Jazz, and Colombian traditional music. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, on March 3, 1979, Carlos was introduced to music at a young age by his father, a music enthusiast. His father encouraged him to learn the electronic organ, the only instrument available at home. During his formative years, Carlos focused on popular music, particularly Colombian styles. This early training proved instrumental in developing his innate musical talent. In his early teens, Carlos discovered rock music and developed an immediate passion for the genre. He immersed himself in the music, absorbing its nuances with an open mind. At 15, he received his first electric bass as a birthday gift and quickly mastered it through dedicated practice. His early rock influences included The Clash, Mano Negra, Pixies, Caifanes, and Soda Stereo. Notably, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, particularly Flea's distinctive bass playing, significantly inspired him and helped shape his personal style. After graduating high school in 1995, Carlos formed his first band, La Severa Matacera, with whom he performed in local clubs and festivals and made his first professional recordings. Simultaneously, he fulfilled his mandatory military service, during which he served as the bassist in the military orchestra. This experience exposed him to various musical styles beyond rock and ska, including Salsa, Merengue, Cumbia, and other popular Colombian rhythms. Upon completing his military service, Carlos pursued a professional music career. He studied electric bass with jazz musician Mario Baracaldo, who introduced him to jazz and the music of Jaco Pastorius. Captivated by jazz, Carlos furthered his studies and was accepted into the music program at Javeriana University in Bogotá for electric bass. His exploration of jazz, inspired by artists like John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, and Miles Davis, led him to discover the double bass, which became his primary instrument. In 2008, he graduated from El Bosque University in Bogotá with a degree in Composition and Arranging. In 2015, Carlos moved to the United States to advance his career. He earned a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2017. Subsequently, he obtained a Master’s degree in Classical Double Bass from Mannes School of Music in New York City in 2023, where he received the prestigious Homer Mensch Award of Excellence, a full tuition grant for double bass players. He has studied with renowned musicians such as Dave Holland, Don Palma, RaKalam Bob Moses, Ran Blake, Jerry Bergonzi, Cecil McBee, and Max Zeugner, assistant principal of the New York Philharmonic. Career and Professional Experience: Carlos has performed, toured, and recorded with leading figures in the Colombian contemporary music scene. Notable collaborations include La Severa Matacera, Bolaefuego, and Pulenta, as well as legendary Colombian artists Sixto Silgado “Paito,” Jose Antonio Torres “Gualajo,” and Leonor Gonzalez Mina “La Negra Grande de Colombia.” He has performed at prestigious festivals and venues worldwide, including Rock al Parque nine times, Colombia al Parque, Jazz al Parque, Teatro Libre Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center NYC, Kimmel Center Philadelphia, House of Blues Los Angeles, FFF Festival Ambato, Ecuador, Latin American Ska Festival Mexico City, Victoria Ska Festival Canada, and Panama Jazz Festival.