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Artist
Leo Blanco
12+ albums
latin jazzHouseJackin housefunky housemainstage
about
Leo Blanco is a Venezuelan pianist, arranger and composer. Leo grew up in Mérida, where from early age he was surrounded by Venezuelan folklore – a blend of African and Spanish musical traditions– as well as jazz, classical music and pop. At the age of ten, he began his studies of classical piano and violin at the Conservatorio de Musica de la Universidad de Los Andes, and a year later was a member of the Mérida Youth Orchestra. In 1988, Leo moved to Caracas where he performed and recorded with his own Jazz trio, while studying Improvisation, jazz harmony and piano at the musical Institute “Ars Nova” and University of Musical Studies. Soon he started working with very well known national artists both in Jazz, Latin Pop. During his 8 years in Caracas, Leo obtained vast experience as a composer, arranger, and musical producer while working as musical director at the oldest and most important Jazz Club “Juan Sebastian Bar”. There, with the Leo Blanco Trio, he shared the stage with major international jazz artist such a: Terence Blanchard, Danilo Perez, Pat Metheny, Chucho Valdez and Irakere, Joao Bosco, Gonzalo Rubalcaba. His interest in world music and jazz brought him to Berklee College of Music in 1996, where he immediately obtained a full scholarship, there he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in composition and improvisation. His talent and dedication to music was very quickly recognized in the US even while he was still in school. In March 1996, Leo won the Boston Jazz Soci
