Julio Santillán - guitarist

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Julio A. Santillán is a New York-based composer and guitarist originally from Tucumán, Argentina. His compositions combine elements from his home land folk music, jazz improvisation and classical music. He has studied classical guitar at Instituto Superior de Música (Argentina) under the direction of maestro Pablo González Jasey. He graduated summa cum laude with a dual major in Classical Composition and Contemporary Writing and Production from Berklee College of Music (Boston, USA). He also studied jazz improvisation with Mick Goodrick. As a composer/arranger he has produced music for documentary films, theater, recordings and live performances for artists around the world. Recently, Argentinian virtuoso guitarist Victor Villadangos, has included guitar studies from Julio's Book Cinco Estudios Criollos in his latest CD Guitar Music from Argentina vol. II (Naxos). Julio also produced Colombian singer Marta Gomez's "Cantos de Agua Dulce", "Entre Cada Palabra" (Chesky Records) and "La Ronda"- Women of Latin America, "Paula Ausente" - Women of the World (Putumayo Records). He has recorded and performed with many musicians from Argentina, Boston and New York including Oscar Stagnaro (Paquito D'Rivera), Livingston Taylor, Raúl Carnota, Quique Sinesi, Juan Falú and Sandra Mihanovich. Mr. Santillán has shared the stage with important artists such as Mercedes Sosa, John Mayer, Pablo Ziegler (Astor Piazzolla), Paquito D'Rivera, Bonnie Raitt, Tania Libertad, Diana Krall and Leon Gieco. He has performed and gave workshops in Argentina, Colombia, Finland, Greece, Canada, Spain and in more than fifty cities in the U.S. including New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Dallas and Washington D.C. Julio A. Santillán has recorded over 30 CDs, including a play-along CD for The Latin Bass Book (Sher Music, by Oscar Stagnaro), two albums with the Pablo Ablanedo Octet (Freshsound records), four cds with Marta Gómez (BigSur records /Chesky Records)- one of which was chosen among the best 10 records of 2003 by the Boston Globe- and one by tango diva Katie Viqueira (Freshsound records)- Independent Music Award winner, 2005 best World Music Album. Julio Santillán plays solo and leads a trio and a septet. He and his groups have been featured in some of the most prestigious venues in the U.S. such as Blue Note (New York) and Regattabar (Boston). He has released four cds with his compositions: Desde el Norte, Anit Negra, Nann and El Bosque de la Memoria (BigSur Records).

Santillan and company have found a way to weave together startling tapestries of color that splash both surprise and warm feelings everywhere as they move a cultural fusion into the future. Boston Herald

Passion in music is always good; passion shaped by elegant concepts is even better. Argentinean native Julio Santillan leading this trio's compelling blend of classic guitar, Argentinian folk and jazz, is even better. The Village Voice

Each piece has a color of its own and the grain becomes all the more vibrant through the array of instruments that come into play, fleshing out the compositions and making them throb with vitality. All About Jazz

A Striking combination of jazz sensibility applied to Argentinian folk rhythms. Boston Herald

...a passionate and encouraging blend of northern folk music, the vertigo of jazz and the solid compositional techniques of a classicl ensemble. La voz del interior

Julio A. Santillan has confirmed once again, the mastery, the cleverness, not to mention all the unrefined soul thal inhabits his spirited compositions. World Rhythm Calendar

Santillan has an open style of playing. His notes are eloquent and speak intimately to the listener. All About Jazz

(Nãnn review) With its stripped-down arrangements and balanced pacing, this can be the soundtrack to simplifying one's life. Bucks County Courier Times

Santillán meld styles from down south into a fresh distinctly jazz sound. Time Out New York

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Argentinian Jazz by Julio Santillan and Marta Gomez at New York's Blue Note Club

The Blue Note jazz club in New York is well-known for its diverse programs, often featuring headliners who are not New Yorkers. The club chain, with outposts in Japan, South Korea and Italy, was founded in 1981 and is not to be confused with the considerably older record label carrying the same... Full Story