October 3, 2015 8:00 PM Edmar Castaneda Trio with Andrea Tierra at The Painted Bride Art Center

Colombian-born jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda has developed a reputation among critics as a virtuoso, known for playing lead, rhythm, and bass with just one instrument and his two hands.

“His music draws on the traditional joropo music of the grasslands he absorbed early, as well as tango, Brazilian and flamenco guitar, West African kora and virtuoso jazz pianists like Art Tatum. That’s a fascinating mix, but his technique is the real astonishment. Castañeda juggles lead, rhythm and bass lines, using a variety of hard and soft string attacks to keep those voices distinct — all without giving up the groove.” – NPR Music
On October 3rd, Castaneda plays the Bride for the first time.

Castaneda’s journey has humble, inspiring beginnings. The son of a musician, Castaneda grew up embracing the noble folkloric traditions of his native Colombia. The joropo dance classes he attended with his sister were a masterclass in movement, accompanied by the harp. In the mid-1990s, he moved to New York and studied jazz trumpet, before returning to the harp. Today, on stages all over the world, the harpist crafts almost unbelievable feats of cross- rhythms, layered with chordal nuances to rival even the most celebrated flamenco guitarists, and an incredible blend of musical influences.

In addition to his acclaimed performing career as an instrumentalist, which has included features at D’Rivera’s Carnegie Hall tribute, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, the 10th annual World Harp Congress, he has also played with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, John Scofield, Marcos Miller, John Patitucci, Chico O’Farrill ‘s Afro-Cuban Jazz Big Band and Edmar Castaneda has gained recognition as a composer.

The Edmar Castaneda Trio is Edmar Castaneda (harp), Sholomi Cohen (saxophone), Dave Silliman (drums), and special guest Andrea Tierra (vocals).