Edmar Castañeda Quartet
Elegance and ingenuity emanate from the scintillating strings of the virtuosic harpist and his jazz quartet.
Strumming lead, harmony, rhythm and bass all at once, Casteñeda has redefined the expressive possibilities of the llanera harp. A leading voice in the Latin jazz scene, he is joined by fellow Colombian singer Andrea Tierra, saxophonist Birsa Chatterjee and drummer Julian Miltenberger, performing music from his new album Global Heartbeat, in an evening of lyrical melodies and vibrant, forward-looking grooves.
Photo by Diana Bejarano
Edmar Castañeda is a Colombian-born harpist, composer and bandleader recognized as one of the most original voices in contemporary jazz. A Latin Grammy nominee for Best Latin Jazz Album (Family), he has redefined the role of the harp through a singular technique that merges bass lines, harmony and melody simultaneously.
Since arriving in New York in 1994, he has collaborated with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D'Rivera, John Scofield, Marcus Miller, Hiromi and Béla Fleck. He is a member of BEATrio with Béla Fleck and Antonio Sánchez, whose album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.
Castañeda is also the creator of the EC Llanera Harp in collaboration with Camac Harps. As a composer, he was commissioned by Carnegie Hall to write Bordones for string orchestra and EC Llanera Harp, and by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to compose Tres Cordilleras for harp and big band under the direction of Wynton Marsalis.
He appears as a performer and music consultant on Disney's Encanto (music by Lin-Manuel Miranda).
His newest quartet album, Global Heartbeat, reflects his vision of family, roots and the idea of Earth as our shared home
Hailing from Medellín, Colombia, singer-songwriter Andrea Tierra creates an innovative fusion of popular Latin American rhythms, seamlessly blending them with the heartfelt essence of her own poetry. Each performance is a celebration of her lyrical creations, where her songs—often carrying progressive themes and political stances against global injustices—are equally matched by her expressive contralto voice. Andrea's range spans from contemporary love ballads to new-age compositions, touching on a variety of emotional landscapes.
In her latest project, Lluvia de Amores, Andrea introduces a quartet featuring exotic instruments, including the Colombian tiple. This ensemble takes listeners on a poetic journey through Latin American rhythms such as Cumbia, Bambuco, and Joropo from Colombia; Zamba from Argentina; Lando from Peru; Bossa Nova and Samba from Brazil; and Flamenco from Spain. These diverse musical influences are further enriched by the distinct energy of New York's vibrant musical style.
Internationally recognized, Andrea Tierra has performed across Europe, the United States, and Latin America, sharing the rich culture and traditions of her native Colombia. She has graced prestigious stages such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, and the Blue Note, and has showcased her talent at renowned festivals like WOMAD in New Zealand and Australia, Rio Loco in France, and the Montreal Jazz Festival, among others.
Birsa Chatterjee is a graduate of Oberlin College (BA, 2019) and The Juilliard School (MA, 2021), where he earned performance degrees in jazz saxophone. He regularly performs with groups such as Ulysses Owens' Gen Y Band, the Edmar Castañeda Quartet, Bria Skonberg, the Tyreek McDole Quintet, the JAZZ HOUSE All-Stars, and Alex Laurenzi's Water Lilies Suite. He has also had the honor of performing with NEA Jazz Master Billy Hart in his quartet.
Chatterjee's performances have taken him to prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, the Blue Note Jazz Club, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, NJPAC, The Django, and The Jazz Cruise, as well as internationally to countries like Peru, Bahrain, and India. Recently, he has been exploring new ground as a composer, blending authentic elements of Indian Classical music with jazz. His compositions have been featured at venues such as The Jazz Gallery, the AAPI Jazz Festival, the Montclair Jazz Festival, and the Jamaica Jazz Festival, and he has taken his group on tour to California.
A dedicated educator, Chatterjee teaches students of all ages and skill levels. He has taught at institutions like Jazz at Lincoln Center, served as a guest speaker at The Juilliard School, and currently teaches for the renowned music education program Jazz House Kids. In addition, he teaches privately in New York City and New Jersey.
Julian Miltenberger is a drummer, composer, and educator originally from Philadelphia, PA, and currently based in Brooklyn, NYC. Known for his distinctive style, Julian's drumming explores the rich rhythmic traditions and dance elements of the Afro-Atlantic world, blending them with a deep commitment to listening and dynamic expression. His performances span a wide range of genres, incorporating Afro-Cuban, jazz, Latin, and world music influences, grounded in both technical proficiency and creative improvisation.
Julian has performed on international stages across countries such as Uruguay, Portugal, Togo, France, Switzerland, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Canada. He has shared the stage with a diverse array of artists, including Grammy-winning musicians Edmar Castañeda, Paquito d'Rivera, and Diego Urcola, as well as renowned figures like Yosvany Terry, Manuel Valera, Samuel Torres, Fran Vielma, Xiomara Laugart, Alain Mallet, Darren Barrett, Wayne Tucker, Pamyua, Ajoyo, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
An accomplished educator, Julian is a graduate of the prestigious Harvard/Berklee dual degree program, where he studied under influential musicians such as Terri Lyne Carrington, Yosvany Terry, Vijay Iyer, Danilo Pérez, and Ralph Peterson Jr., among others. His academic and performance experiences continue to shape his versatile approach to rhythm and composition.
“Castañeda juggles lead, rhythm and bass lines... His amazing technique raises the bar for every harpist.
NPR, Fresh Air
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