When I was growing up in Lima, Peru, my home was always alive with music. I learned to play traditional Peruvian folk music percussion from my family and the many Lima musicians I was able to play with. When I heard Jazz for the first time, I was amazed, and knew I wanted to learn to play it. Since I had very few Jazz resources in Peru, I decided in 2006 that if I really wanted to learn I should relocate to Chicago, so I made the move.

It was here in Chicago, playing and touring with many great Jazz musicians, that I was inspired to record my original music, and start my own band, Chinchano. I quickly realized that my original music reflected my diverse life experience, and the many different people and places I had learned from. I was writing for a Jazz quintet, and employing Jazz forms, structures, and harmonies, but I found myself using many Peruvian folk rhythmic styles. Peruvian folk music is very diverse: there are Afro-Peruvian styles, like Landó, Festejo, and Marinera, Andean styles like Huayno that date back to Inca Empire times, and Spanish-influenced styles like Vals Peruano, and my original music reflects all of these styles.

So here you have Chinchano: a folk-music upbringing in Lima meets the fast-paced Chicago jazz scene. My experience as a curious Peruvian musician being joined by some of Chicago's finest Jazz musicians to perform the music from my life experience. Our first recording will be released in May, 2014. Chinchano has also been selected by the Chicago Jazz institute to be featured in their JazzGen artistic program.