Rojas, aka El Peje, was born in the city of Caibarién, in this central Cuban province, and is the creator of the Drums and timbal method and drummer of the former group The Afro-Cuban Messengers, winner of the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album ‘Chucho’s Steps,” in the 53rd edition.
“Villa Clara has always had a great influence on jazz from the musical harmony of masters like Gustavo Rodríguez, Carlos López Ajá, who although they cultivated the so-called popular music, were greatly influenced by that genre that was created in the late 19th century in the African-American communities of New Orleans,” Juan Carlos recalled.
He indicated that jazz activity increased in the territory with the presence of musician Pucho López in orchestras like Música Moderna and Raíces Nuevas in which he had the privilege of participating as a percussionist.
“Chucho Valdés told me that Villa Clara was always very ahead in the interpretation of this genre and that there was an important force of many jazz fans,” the drummer added.
Rojas made his first international tour, in Japan, in 1992, with the group Todos Estrellas, which also included sublime musicians such as Tata Güines, Frank Emilio, Richard Egües, Omara Portuondo, Pancho Amat and others.
“I am very grateful to have been invited to participate here in this province where I became a musician and I would like to make my little contribution to the best development of the contest,” he said.
“I am going to play in a Jazz Band with Emilio Morales, Emilo Vega, and other musicians from the United States, who will perform in the surroundings of the Leoncio Vidal Park in Santa Clara,” he added.
“I recently returned from Monterey, Mexico, where I participated in a festival with my counterpart Samuel Formell, director of Los Van Van orchestra and whom I would like to invite to participate with us in some of the jazz events in Villa Clara from January 26 to February 6, whose main venue in its 40th edition will once again be Havana,” he announced.
In his forty years of career, Juan Carlos Rojas has exchanged with great percussionists such as Tata Güines, Changuito, Dave Weckl and Robbie Ameen and has performed in several editions of Latin Beat Magazine in the United States.
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