Bio

 My life is a story of many languages and cultures, of searching for common ground, of learning new things.  I saw Stanley Clarke perform a solo concert, with Jaco Pastorius as a special guest on a song, in London when I was three years old. That's when I discovered music as my calling. I was inspired and encouraged by the musicians of the South African community during my early years in the UK, including Eugene Skeef and members of the group District Six. 

 As a child I studied piano on and off for a few years and then I fell in love with the guitar and percussion. I spent much of my childhood between Europe and Lima, Peru, where I was born, and I believe all that traveling deeply influenced my outlook on life and music.

 I like learning to play different styles of music and various instruments, but my true passion is songwriting, and my interest in literature has been a driving force in my pursuit as a songwriter.  I think my aesthetic as a songwriter lies somewhere between my father’s 80’s pop music record collection and the many kinds of music I have been exposed to as a working musician in so many contexts.  From Jazz to Reggae and Afro-Peruvian music.  From Brazilian music to Americana to french music.  From moroccan music to flamenco and classical music, it all somehow finds an expression in what I do.  

 As a teenager in the USA I toured with the band Al Andalus, an ensemble of musicians from many parts of the world which celebrated the music of Andalusian Spain.

After attending Berklee College of music on a scholarship and graduating with honors I moved to Portland, Oregon to join the band Pink Martini.  At present I mostly perform my original music and arrangements of Latin-American classics. 

Awards:

2013-Independent Music Award for Best Song - Story Song

2013-Independent Music Award for Best Song - Children’s Music

2013-Independent Music Award for Best Song - Vox Pop Award

2014- Independent Music Award for Best Song - World Beat

2014-Independent Music Award for Best Song - Love Song

2019-Independent Music Award for Best Song - Acoustic Song

2019-Independent Music Award for Best Song - Reggae/Ska/Dancehall