Casa Captivating
Exclusive Interviews
It is no secret that Gilbert Castellanos is one of the hardest-working musicians in San Diego, if not all of California He has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, Charlie Hayden, Liza Minnelli, Natalie Cole, and Carl Anderson. He is a member of the L.A. based Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, as well as playing with Anthony Wilson Nonet, Charles McPherson Quintet, Gilbert Castellanos Quintet, and the New Latin Jazz Quartet.
Casa Romantica interviewed Gilbert Castellanos in 2018 when he first performed and we are excited to have him back once again! Read below his interview to learn more about him, then purchase tickets for his next performance at Casa Cool on July 27, 2023.
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CR: How would you characterize your style of playing?
GC: Straight-ahead, Latin and AfroCuban jazz. When I was a child, it was hearing trumpeter Freddie Hubbard’s album “Red Clay” that changed my life! I found it in my father’s endless record collection – and listened to it a thousand times at least! Lee Morgan and Clifford Brown are two other jazz trumpeters that continue to influence me. And, of course, the great Dizzy Gillespie; to this day I strongly believe that Dizzy Gillespie was responsible for me getting that scholarship to Berklee School of Music. I’ve performed tributes many times over the years to these, and also to Miles Davis; we performed his inconic “Kind of Blue” albums from start to finish to a sold out audience earlier this year! My “style” is a reflection of these, and other jazz legends.
CR: What is more appealing: the vastness of a stadium stage, or the intimacy of a small venue?
GC: I love playing to a “listening” audience; people come for the music experience and aren’t there to talk and socialize while the music is being performed. You can have a serious listening audience at both The Westgate Hotel Plaza Bar where I’ve been in residency for five years, or in Copley Symphony Hall with 2,200 people who have their own connection to Miles Davis! Connecting with my audience, no matter what the size, is what means the most to me.
CR: What are the highlights of your experience as Curator of the Jazz @ the Jacobs (part of the San Diego Symphony) these past four years?
GC: We just wrapped the third season of Bayside Summer Nights Thursday Jazz with a concert called “Ladies Who Jam” that featured top female jazz artists from around the world – including Tony and Grammy award-winner DeeDee Bridgewater. It was unique and incredible to have those talented women – and only women – on the stage together, many whom had never met, for one night. It’s typically an all-male band – but these women were powerful collectively, and then individually. It was a one night experience and I feel very fortunate to be a part in creating that for the audience, but also for the musicians, many who have gone on to work on projects and collaborate together. New, creative relationships come out of both Series: Jazz @ The Jacobs and Bayside Summer Nights. Thanks the San Diego Symphony for that! Other highlights include Gregory Porter, Chucho Valdés, Dianne Reeves…too many to name! And, of course, the sold out “Miles Davis: Kind of Blue” concert. It had never been done before, that I can see…playing that inconic recording from start to finish. I’m thank to Symphony CEO Martha Gilmer for her vision in unique experiences like that to the Jacobs Music Center stage!
CR: You’ve made music education a big part of your practice by founding the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory. Why is music education so important, and what effects are you seeing from students who complete programs like yours?
GC: Jazz music education that takes the young musicians beyond a classroom only experience into a “real world” experience is what’s going to preserve this American art form and, as I like to say often, “keep jazz alive!” It has always my dream, to have a component in San Diego where I could teach and raise the next generation of jazz. I taught at USC for about 10 years, and then I taught an after-school program at the Colburn School of Music for high school kids. That’s when the lightbulb went on in my head—I loved doing it in L.A. at Colburn, but why couldn’t this happen in San Diego? I knew I should start a program here to benefit my community. Maybe I would just teach a small class out of my living room. In May of 2017, I started to plan this out. I’m pleased to say that the school is up and operating. We are based at Liberty Station and we have close to 70 students in the program. That was a lot more than we were anticipating—so we have multiple classes over two days. I have an unbelievable board who really keeps me in check. I oversee the entire program and create the curriculum for the year. I plan out the scheduling of our performances, our workshops, and things we’ll be doing with the city. Every time I wake up, every time I show up to teach, that’s what I’m living for. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing, I love working with Quincy Jones and the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, I love the opportunities that I get to perform, but you know my heart and soul is with these young musicians. That’s my passion right now! And the results are undeniable! Our students are being accepted to renowned institutions including: The Julliard School, Berklee School of Music, USC, The New School of Jazz/NYC, The Manhattan School of Music, just to name a few!
CR: What excites you most about performing at Casa Romantica?
GC: I’m excited to connect with a new audience at a beautiful venue that has a deep appreciation for jazz! It is really an honor to perform in the Casa Jazz Series where other jazz musicians – who I have a deep respect for – have also performed. Thank you to the Casa Romantica staff who have been incredible. You are keeping jazz alive!
Casa Cool: Gilbert Castellanos will be taking place on July 27, 2023 at 7:00 PM. Click here to buy tickets.
