Julito Padrón:
The Miles Davis of Cuba and His “Trompeta Mágica”
The extraordinary musical journey of JULITO PADRÓN (*April 13, 1971) began at the age of nine with trumpet lessons at the Escuela Vocacional de Artes de Pinar del Río (EVA). While still studying at the prestigious Escuela Nacional de Arte (ENA) in Havana (graduating in 1991), he began his professional career under the wing of renowned singer and multi-instrumentalist BOBBY CARCASSÉS. After graduating, he joined the legendary SEPTETO NACIONAL IGNACIO PIÑEIRO and, between 1994 and 1997, played with the master of Son, ADALBERTO ÁLVAREZ Y SU SON. His musical versatility also led to collaborations with Grammy-winning arranger JOAQUÍN BETANCOURT, before he was recruited by Maestro Chucho Valdés to join his legendary Afro-Cuban jazz band IRAKERE.
From 1997 onwards, Julito has toured the world with Chucho, performing at major jazz festivals in Montreux, Marciac, Marseille, at New York’s iconic Blue Note Club, Carnegie Hall, and many other prestigious stages across the globe.
Over the course of his career, Julito Padrón has contributed to numerous album productions in and outside of Cuba, working with musical giants such as Arístides Soto (TATA GÜINES) and José Luis Quintana (CHANGUITO). Beginning in 2005, he also toured the U.S. and Europe with Juan de Marcos González’s AFRO-CUBAN ALL STARS.
In 2001, he has also been a singer and trumpeter with the collaborative Cuban cult band “INTERACTIVO”. Under the direction of pianist, singer, and composer Roberto Carcassés, this ever-evolving group features musicians from a wide range of genres, creating a uniquely fresh mix of funk, jazz, salsa, rumba, rock, and rap.
And last but not least, since 2015, Julito has been a key figure in the Cuban-Jamaican band “HAVANA MEETS KINGSTON”—a name that says it all. The grand finale of their fascinating intercultural tour took place in 2018 at London’s Royal Albert Hall for the BBC.
Today, Julito Padrón is regarded internationally as one of Cuba’s most promising and creative jazz musicians. Following his debut with IRAKERE, he began developing his own repertoire with his jazz ensemble JULITO PADRÓN Y CUBAN FEELING. His artistry is deeply rooted in the rich traditions of Cuban music, while he also cites American jazz and Brazilian music as key influences.
His debut album, “DESCARGA SANTA” (2000 – Real Rhythm), became a milestone in the Cuban music scene. His second album, “BUENAS NOTICIAS” (2001 – Sunnyside), received four-star reviews in two leading jazz magazines and impressed audiences with its vibrant fusion of cha-cha-cha rhythms and Afro-Cuban rumba elements. His third album, “CARIDAD”, is inspired by travel memories and is shaped by danzón and son as its dominant rhythms.
Thanks to his impressive musical résumé and the unmistakable style of his “Trompeta Mágica,” Julito Padrón is considered one of the leading figures in the Cuban music scene. Yet despite his acclaim, he continues to perform with great passion and joy on small stages and at spontaneous jam sessions around the world.
Without a doubt: In Cuba and across the global jazz scene, he is an institution.
He is the Miles Davis of Cuba.
And so much more.
