Edmar Castaneda is a New York-based Colombian harpist who makes otherworldly Jazz based on the folk music of Colombia and Venezuela.
Castaneda makes music of the angels. He is the Jimi Hendrix of the Andean harp. His emotional range would be exhausting if it wasn’t so sweet. Castaneda switches gears naturally like he is driving through the mountain neighborhoods of his native Bogotá.
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Castaneda celebrates the release of his new album “Family” at Dizzy’s Club in Jazz at Lincoln Center at Columbus Circle on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 7:30 & 9:30pm ET. $40 🇨🇴
Edmar Castaneda is a Heavenly Jazz Harpist
Edmar Castaneda was born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1978. His father, Pavelid Castaneda is a also a harp player, composer, and music teacher.
We get our share of Andean folk music on the streets and subways of New York City, but Castaneda takes this music to another level. In the same way that a Brazilian percussionist can make a full drum kit out of a tin can, Castañeda finds many different voices in his harp. The effect is something like listening to a chorus of angels. This is what happens when genius meets love.
One of the reasons Edmar Castaneda is special is because he makes Indigenous music world-class. We almost destroyed our Native American communities in what is now the United States, but the Indigenous spirit remains strong in the music of Colombia and the Andes.
Edmar Castaneda in New York
Edmar tours a lot, but do go see him when he’s in New York.
Castaneda plays jazz on his Colombian harp opening for Johnathan Blake at Drom in the East Village on Fri, August 20, 2021 at 7:30pm (6:30pm doors). $30 🇨🇴
Thursday, August 6, 2020 at 6pm ~ Castaneda plays his harp and soul, and talks about Andean harp culture with ethnomusicologist Jay Loomis for the World Music Institute on Zoom. Free with RSVP
Castañeda joins Japanese Jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara for The Hiromi Duet at NJPAC Victoria Theater in Newark, New Jersey on Sunday, November 5, 2017 at 3 pm. $49 – $59
Castañeda and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra play a free concert for the Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival at Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 7:30pm. Free
The Edmar Castañeda Quartet featuring Jorge Glem plays Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in Lincoln Square, Manhattan, Tuesday & Wednesday, February 27 & 28 at 7:30 & 9:30 pm. $25 – $35
The Edmar Castañeda Quartet and special guest Afro-Swiss harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret play LeFrak Concert Hall at Queens College in Flushing, NY on April 15, 2018 at 3 pm. $25 – $40
Castaneda plays DROM November 20, 2016 on a bill with Venezuelan cuatro and mandolin player Jorge Glem, and Swiss harmonica player Gregoire Maret.
Castañeda plays a Winter JazzFest showcase at the New School 5th Floor Theater Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 9:40pm.
Castañeda plays Guadalupe Inn in Bushwick Brooklyn, Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 8pm.
Castañeda plays a duet with Japanese pianist Hiromi at the Blue Note in Greenwich Village, Tuesday-Sunday, June 6-11, 2017 with shows at 8 & 10:30pm. $30-55
Castañeda plays the Jazz Standard July 26-27, 2016. Castaneda’s last album was “Live at the Jazz Standard” so this should be a great show.
For more information, visit EdmarCastaneda.com