|
 Carlos
Caro was born in Havana, Cuba in 1967. He began his professional
musical career with the group Clave. Among the note-worthy musicians
who played with him in Clave were "Puly" Hernandez, the current lead
singer of Dan Den as well as the sons of the revered Cuban trombonist, Juan
Pablo Torres. His experience in Clave was important in his development
as a percussionist; it was during this time that he experimented with
using a third bongo head, or the "Tri-bongo". Clave also
acted as a springboard to other musical opportunities.
Exposure was beginning to get him the attention of other respected
bands in Cuba.
1990 saw him begin a new stage in his career as the first bongocero for Opus
13, a band that eventually metamorphosed into Paulo y Su Elite. During his two
and a half year involvement with the band, he recorded two albums. The band was
directed by Paulo Fernandez Gallo, one of the most well recognized and respected
artists in Cuban music. Central American, European and Asian tours followed.
The band also formed part of singer Jackeline Castellanos 1990-1991 tour and
recorded the album, La Dama Del Son. The recording was nominated for the "EGREM" award
given by the Music Recording and Editing Association of Cuba.
In late 1993, he immigrated to Mexico. Taking up residence in Mexico
City, he played with groups such as 40 Grados, La Ley, La Rumbantela and various
other Cuban ensembles. During his stay in Mexico, he was introduced to other
genres of music. He also performed a work in the Danzon style with the Mexico
City Philharmonic.
He has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1996 and has become
a much sought-after percussionist, working with established Bay Area
musicians such as Rebeca
Mauleón,
Anthony Blea y su Charanga, Jesus Diaz and his QBA, Grupo Malo, Jorge
Santana, Karl Perazzo's Avance,
Orquesta Ritmo y Armonia, and Orquesta La Moderna Tradicion among many
others. He also has played with Eddie Palmieri, Armando
Peraza, Rey Ruiz, Pedro Brull, Luisito Carrion,
Anthony Cruz, Nino Segarra, Ommy Cardona, Nachito Herrera, and Omar
Sosa among others. In 2004 released an album entitled: Kitikimba Pa’tiwith
his own band Vision Latina debuting as a composer. The second
album titled Sonado Como un Cañon will be released in
early 2010.
Caro’s desire to bring his music to students resulted in his recording
of an instructional CD, Muy Caliente, with the aforementioned Mauleón,
Orestes Vilató, Oscar Stagnaro and Edgardo Cambón. He was also nominated
by the website timba.com as
the best bongosero from Cuba in the timba style. |
