Gustavo Cortiñas’ Desafío Candente

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

TIME: 7:00-8:00PM

Venue: International House. 1414 East 59th St.

Gustavo Cortiñas

A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans and Northwestern University, Gustavo Cortiñas has developed a successful career in the U.S. for over a decade, leading and accompanying ensembles on renowned stages and at festivals in North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. His music has been called everything from innovative and idiosyncratic to sublime, elegant, robust, uplifting, and timely. DownBeat has characterized it as “an exciting blend of the artist's musical influences from jazz and Latin America.”

During his time in Chicago, Cortiñas has become a sought-out drummer who has performed and recorded with Kitt Lyles, Erik Skov, Imagery Converter, Emily Kuhn, Roy McGrath, Kyle Madsen, and the Carla Campopiano Trio, among others. He is a member of the Chicago Jazz Composer's Collective and performs regularly as part of their monthly residency at Chicago's very own Green Mill. 

Cortiñas has released three projects as leader: Snapshot, ESSE, and Desafio Candente. With grant support from the Mexican National Endowment of the Arts (FONCA), he is currently working on a fourth: Kind Regards, which features original songs that attempt to bridge gaps and call for community in today’s polarized world. 

We would like to thank the Mexican National Endowment of the Arts for their support in the development of this program.

The musicians:

Drew Hansen - trumpet

Artie Black - reeds

Matthew Davis - trombone

Joaquín García - piano

Kitt Lyles - bass

Gustavo Cortiñas - drums