Carlos Jimenez & His Latin Orchestra

March 21 | 8:00 pm | Bar 360

Carlos Jimenez is an extraordinary flute player and vocalist, as well as composer and bandleader of Jazz, Latin Jazz, and Salsa.

Born in New York, his family moved to Puerto Rico when he was six years old. It was there that his musical training began. From a young age, Carlos had an aptitude for percussion and played timbales, bongos, and congas. His first lyrical instrument was the trumpet, which he studied under Professor Pablo Leon at Francisco Zayas Santana High School. Carlos soon changed his instrument to flute, feeling inspired by listening to the music of Mongo Santamaria and how he utilized the flute in his arrangements. Carlos returned to New York as a young man to pursue his dream of becoming a jazz flutist. He began studying classical flute at the Music Conservatory of Westchester.  A few years later, he studied jazz harmony and voicing with master pianist Michael Longo.

Carlos’ hard work and passion for music have resulted in a prolific performance schedule over the past 20 plus years. He has led everything from quartets to orchestras for corporate events for Regeneron, Nike, Victoria’s Secret Co., Scotia-bank, TD Bank; Cultural Institutions and Universities such as New York Botanical Garden, Lehman College, York College, Stony Brook Southampton, Sarah Lawrence College and Columbia University; Unions including the United Federation of Teachers, NYS Federation of Taxi Drivers, H.A.L.E.O Law Enforcement, USDEA, NYS Judicial Institution and Local 802 American Federation of Musicians. Carlos’ band has performed at numerous festivals including Lake George Festival, White Plains Jazz Festival, Harbour Jazz Festival, 3rd Annual West Harlem Jazz Festival, Summer Sound Festival, Long Island Winterfest on the Vine, and Fall Harvest Fishkill Farm Festival. Has done many Galas, fundraisers and community events which has earned him multiple proclamations and awards for his service to the community as well as having had the honor of providing the first ever musical performance at the Supreme Court in Westchester County. Over the years, Carlos has performed at many well-known New York City restaurants; hotels and performance venues including The New York Hotel, Casa Cipriani Hotel, Public Hotel, Ritz Carlton, The Marriott, The Lexington Hotel, The Opus, City Winery, Niche Niche and Gabriel’s NYC.

The Carlos Jimenez Orchestra is the house band for the iconic Zona de Cuba in the Bronx. To date, Carlos has recorded nine albums of his own compositions and arrangements.