Victor Garcia

Description

Examiner.com’s Neil Tesser calls him “one of the most exciting young musicians.” Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich says that he “stands out as an ebullient soloist offering a formidable technique and a radiantly polished tone.” JazzChicago.net’s Brad Walseth regards him as a “young lion trumpeter.”

He’s as versatile as he is creative. His trumpet talent heralds his international acclaim. He also sings, plays percussion, and his songwriting, arrangements and charts have led him to professorial positions at Roosevelt University, Loyola University and the University of Illinois in Chicago.

The lineup of greats he’s performed with speaks for itself: Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, Spoon, Monty Alexander, Wynton Marsalis, Victor Manuelle, Nicholas Payton, La India, the Temptations, Steve Turre, BeBe Winans, Tito Puente, Jr., Paquito d’Rivera, Randy Brecker, Branford Marsalis, and Dr. John. Victor has recorded on dozens of albums, three of them Grammy-nominated. He’s currently on tour with The Isley Brothers and released his debut album, The Grind/The Groove, in 2018.

Work Sample

This is the Victor Garcia Organ Septet at the Chicago Jazz Fest on 9/3/2016.

This was a concert performed after a week of teaching students in Colombia virtually (due to pandemic) in Aug 17-19, 2020.

This was a clinicians’ jam during New Trier Jazz Fest on Sat, Feb 2, 2019.

Regarding the Colombia submission, my upcoming album will be a Latin jazz production. Regarding the New Trier submission, I will be working on a masters degree this fall in hopes of attaining a full time university teaching job. Regarding the Jazz Fest submission: it is a performance of an original composition that is featured on my debut release, The Grind/The Groove.

History

I've worked as a performing artist, teacher, clinician, lecturer, arranger and composer for 20+ years. The lineup of greats I've performed with speaks for itself: Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, Spoon, Monty Alexander, Wynton Marsalis, Victor Manuelle, Nicholas Payton, La India, the Temptations, Steve Turre, BeBe Winans, Tito Puente, Jr., Paquito d’Rivera, Randy Brecker, Branford Marsalis, and Dr. John. I've recorded on dozens of albums, three of them Grammy-nominated.

Artistic Vision

When I do educational outreach and performances with my Latin group, my objective is to inform the students of the connection of the African drums to the music of different countries in Latin America via the slave trade. The drums have evolved differently in various regions in the Americas and has converged with the jazz idiom in the last century to bring to life a wide array of new genres. Understanding and appreciating these genres aids in the evolution and new directions of Latin jazz. When I do educational outreach and performances as a jazz artist, my objective is to connect the dots between the study of harmony and improvisation. Since this is an aural tradition, I stress the importance of the process of transcription and demonstrate key methods that lead to effective mastery. In addition, I discuss the rhythmic elements that make jazz what it is, in order to ensure authentic stylistic phrasing in this genre.