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Artist
Rafael Rosa
12+ albums
jazzguitaristjazz guitar
about
Rafael has been driving himself ever since picking up the guitar at age 15 in his home Puerto Rico. Primarily self-taught and learning music by ear, it was a matter of time before formal education came into effect five years later at the Inter-American University. Rafael completed a BA Degree in Popular Music as it allowed the continuation of studying with the local greats: Ricardo Pons, Fernando Mattina, Ángel David Mattos, Aldemar Valentín, Francisco Serrano, Ismael Rodriguez Andrew Lazaro, Pedro Rivera Toledo, Hector Matos, L. Raúl Romero and Miguel Cubano. Under this collaboration of educators an extensive arsenal of Jazz, Funk, Latin, Rock, and Pop Music was absorbed. During these first years of college life Rafael performed weekly with his group 4 Corners, which featured Jonathan Suazo, Leonardo Osuna, and Dan Martinez. Rafael also performed with the likes of Edmar Colón, Ramón Vázquez, Eric Figueroa, as well as appearing in several jazz festivals and getting emphatically reviewed for his playing on recordings with bassist Alex “Apolo” Ayala, as well as a nomination from ACAM (Asociación de Compositores y Autores Musicales) for Best Jazz Album with Felipe Fournier and his group {menos es más}. At the age of 25 Rafael graduated with honors and was given the opportunity to teach at his alma mater. In the fall of 2011 Rafael was accepted to NYU’s Steinhardt School of Music Graduate Degree Program in Jazz Performance as well as given an opportunity to be part of the music f
