Congrats to Colombian-born jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda for his Oct. 24 feature in Billboard. His unique approach to the harp has caused a stir in the musical community over the years, revolutionizing the way many think about the instrument and its possibilities. Castaneda’s fame skyrocketed after a 2014 video of his playing went viral, which was produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center. Billboard writer Judy Cantor-Navas notes how he “acrobatically bends his body as he embraces his harp, while his hands athletically move from a caressing strum of the strings to pyrotechnic plucking.” The article highlights his recent collaboration with “charismatic and muscular” Japanese pianist Hiromi, which includes the album Live at Montreal and a tour throughout the United States in Nov. 2017. This is not Castaneda’s first interesting partnership—he has shared stages with artists ranging from the rock musician Sting to Cuban-born jazz sax player Paquito D’Rivera. You can find the article here.
Can’t get enough of Castaneda? Harp Column featured him in the Jan./Feb. 2011 issue. Subscribe now to read it!
