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Julio A. Santillán

 
CountryArgentina
OccupationArranger, Composer, Lyricist, Performer, Singer, Teacher
CategoriesClassical, Contemporary, Folk, Fusion, Jazz, Latin, Musical, Neoclassical, Soundtrack/Film Music, World

Julio A. Santillán is a composer and guitarist 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). While in New York (2004-2009) he was a faculty member at Manhattan College.

Mr. Santillán received the following awards: Kunstgegen Foundation 2007 Music for Modern Dance Performance Competition, 2004 Van Lier Fellowship, ASACPlus, Louis Armstrong Jazz, the Arif Mardin and the Contemporary Writing and Production Achievement.

As a composer/arranger he has produced music for documentary films, theater, recordings and live performances for artists around the world. As a sideman he has recorded and performed with many musicians from Argentina and the U.S.including Oscar Stagnaro (Paquito D’Rivera), Livingston Taylor, Raúl Carnota, Quique Sinesi, Juan Falú and Sandra Mihanovich. He has performed and gave workshops in Argentina, Colombia, Finland, Greece, Canada, Spain, Italy, Romania 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 40 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 with tango diva Katie Viqueira (Freshsound records)- Independent Music Award winner, 2005 best World Music Album.

Julio Santillán plays solo and leads several ensembles. 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 six cds with his compositions: “Desde el Norte”, “Anit Negra”, “Ñann”, “El Bosque de la Memoria” (BigSur Records), "Argentinean Jazz in New York" (BlueMusicGroup) and 'Un Instante" (BigSur Records).

These are some quotes from the media:

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

"Santillán 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 Santillán leading this trio's compelling blend of classic guitar, argentinean folk and jazz, is even better."
-The Village Voice (New York)

Julio A. Santillán