JAZZ
The perfect chaos
stellar musicians
ROBERTO Blanco - piano
Pianist, organist, and composer specializing in jazz. Born in Mexico, he received his first lessons at an early age from his mother, Mireya Martínez, who introduced him to classical music. He continued his studies under the guidance of great teachers, including Nadia Stankovich (Serbia), Gonzalo Gutiérrez (Ollin Yoliztli), and Ricardo Portales in solfège and composition (Cuba). This continued until his adolescence, when he discovered the world of jazz and other styles. From that moment on, his focus shifted toward music that involved improvisation. Roberto has been a professor at the University of Sciences and Arts of Chiapas (UNICACH) for about five years and has performed on various national and international stages in America, Asia, and Europe.
Israel Cupich - double bass
Double bassist and jazz composer born in Mexico City. He studied at the Escuela Libre de Música and completed his studies at the Escuela Superior de Música.
He has participated in the most important jazz festivals in Mexico alongside both national and international musicians. As a bandleader, he has released four albums and participated in at least 20 recordings as a guest musician. From 2014 to the present, he has also developed as a producer, creating spaces to promote jazz through concerts, masterclasses, and various activities under the JazzMx Comunidad collective.
Gabriel Puentes - drums
Jazz drummer, born in Santiago, Chile, and based in Mexico since 1999. He has recorded more than twenty albums
released and many more to be released. His first album as a leader, “Simple,” was released in 2010 by Fresh Sound New Talent in Barcelona. He has participated in various projects and played with the most important jazz musicians on the Mexican scene over the last ten years, including Eugenio Toussaint, Agustín Bernal, and Miguel Villicaña. He has also played with prominent international jazz musicians, including Eddie Gómez, Bill McHenry, Bruce Saunders, and Tianna Hall.
Iraida Noriega - narration and voice
Mexican singer, songwriter, and radio host currently considered the most accomplished and consistent exponent of national jazz. Iraida stands out not only for her style, but also for the connection she achieves with musicians, creating performances in which her voice becomes an instrument. At the age of 16, she made her professional debut alongside her father, Freddy Noriega; upon reaching adulthood, she traveled to New York to study for three years at City College under the tutelage of Sheila Jordan. One of the most significant stages of her life was the recording of her first solo album, “Efecto mariposa,” and later “Viaje de mar.” Her
discography includes solo projects and diverse collaborations, interpreting genres ranging from jazz to children's music.
substitute musicians
ALEX MERCADO - piano
A Mexican pianist with astonishing technique and
boundless imagination, Alex Mercado is acclaimed for his ability to compose brilliant compositions and create vibrant soundscapes that have resonated with critics and audiences alike in his native Mexico and internationally. He has released seven albums under his own name. Alex Mercado is a Yamaha Artist and is considered by critics to be one of the most important figures in contemporary Mexican jazz. He was selected as a Performing Artist with a Career by the National Fund for Culture and the Arts from 2018 to 2020.
Gustavo Nandayapa - drums
He studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory and has taken clinics with Antonio Sánchez, Seamus Blake, and Kurt Rosenwinkel. He is one of the most sought-after drummers on the Mexican jazz scene. He has played with jazz and free improvisation artists such as Remi Álvarez, Iraida Noriega, and Agustín Bernal, among others. He has collaborated with Saúl Hernández and worked with producers such as Don Was (Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Blue Note). He is currently an artist with Bosphorus Cymbals and has recorded for the Tzadik label (John Zorn) in the Book of Angels series.
Toto Nava - double bass
Toto Nava is part of the growing boom of young musicians dedicated to promoting jazz in Mexico. He is co-founder of the Struttin' Jazz Lab education project and an active musician on the country's jazz scene, where he leads his project “TN:5” in collaboration with Héctor Roríguez, Juan Ale Saenz, Santiago Von, and Roberto Verastegui. He has collaborated with musicians such as Guillermo Perata, Emilio Reyna, Nico Santella, Adrián Terrazas, Sima Itayim, Daniele Moreli, and Carlos Mendez, among others.
Leika Mochán - narration and voice
A singer and songwriter originally from Cuernavaca, Morelos, she began her musical studies at the age of 5, playing the violin. She studied singing as a child with teachers such as Ana Gloria Bastida, Iraida Noriega, and Isabel Tercero, and graduated from the jazz program at the INBA School of Music, specializing in singing. She has been a member of the groups Muna Zul, Proyecto Gecko, Ollin Cuica (MamaSónicas), Frágil, and Kaleidojismos, and has also participated as a guest in many other projects. Her style combines jazz, folk, and alternative pop. She is a pioneer of live looping in Mexico. She has performed with her various groups or as a soloist at festivals and venues both inside and outside the country.