Fulfilling a childhood dream…
It is a chilly winter evening; Carlos Alberto Santana plays the piano and his fingers glide improvising effortlessly. The Option Jazz Lounge is in the Brook Street Hotel in Kanata. On January 15th at 6:30 p.m. the room came alive with the Latin jazz improvisations resulting in a dazzling performance.
Santana’s journey as a Latin jazz pianist and composer is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and perseverance in the pursuit of artistic excellence. The National Arts Centre was a memorable venue, with a captivated audience and a beautiful atmosphere. He is constantly working on his craft. Whether it is composing, practicing, or performing, he is continuously improving his craft, which underlines the discipline required to sustain a career in music.
From an early age he had a love for the piano, requesting lessons from his parents. He studied classical music with a musical family in Mexico, that taught him the basics in a normal curriculum. His inclination toward improvisation was always an issue, “I always tended to improvise when I was playing, and they were upset.” He recalls, my teacher used to say, “This is not what is written there.” “But it is what I feel,” said Santana. “
As a result, I found my place in Jazz.” His unique musical identity was created by studying both classical music and jazz improvisation under various maestros Angel Esteva, Juan Jose Calatayud, and Jan Jarczyk.
The Latin jazz pianist and composer is a member of a jazz quartet, the Carlos Alberto Santana Jazz Quartet that features Alvaro de Minaya (Drums and Percussion) Daniel Chavolla (Bass) and Jasmim Lalande (Saxophone and Flute. With two group albums to his credit, “Oye Latino” released in 2015 and “La Azotea” in 2020 and a solo piano album released in 2024. Their quartet is working on another album, and he is releasing another piano solo album.
He maintains a dual identity, working as an electrical engineer by day and Latin jazz musician at night. Learning to optimize his energy levels, he finds that “music energizes me,” said Santana. His dedication reflects how passion in the arts can energize your professional career. When he gets to his keyboard his energy is always there to perform. However, he looks forward to retiring and dedicating himself to his music.
Inspiration can strike at a moment’s notice. “I compose a lot; I do not have the time sometimes to polish the music to put it in an album. I have keyboards everywhere on all the floors, were watching a movie, I have my keyboard, and I am practicing, or I have my iPad,” said Santana.
His story is a reminder of the countless hours of unseen work. It is also crucial to balance his commitments, which he achieves with the support of his family, his wife and two daughters.
After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering he decided to pursue music. He sold his car, quit his job, and pursued his passion for music in Montreal. He made sacrifices to pursue his music. He had to return to Mexico. He decided to complete his master’s degree, to be able to return to Canada. With the eventual goal to continue pursuing his studies of jazz improvisation, his one true calling. He was committed to his art form despite all the obstacles and challenges.
