Today we’d like to introduce you to Santiago Gonzalez.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Santiago. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started playing drums when I was four years old at church, and change of instruments until I watched Victor Wooten playing when I was eight, then I started to play bass. After that, I started learning by my own and transcribing music such as Jamiroquai, Victor Wooten, Richard Bona, Kool and the Gang, Stevie Wonder, Alain Perez, etc…
I played in different festivals and events since I was in school and started touring since I was 12.
Then, over time I began to play all kinds of music such as jazz (swing, ballads, blues, etc.), Colombian music (vallenato, joropo, porro, etc.), rock, funk and others. Founder of The Bará Group, composer, arranger and bassist of the group.
I started playing in gospel music churches and joropo festivals on the plain. Then over time, I began to travel and play in festivals and events in the United States and festivals and events in Colombia.
In 2015, I entered to study music (Jazz Bass) at the “Xaverian University” in Bogotá and began to participate in many concerts here in Colombia, with different groups and styles of music, such as:
– Colombian jazz
– Swing Jazz
– Porros
– Joropo llanero
– Pasillos
– Bambucos,
I have played at many festivals such as:
– Bandola
– El “mono” Nuñez
– Sevijazz
– Villajazz,
– Summer Festival
– Colombia al Parque
– Rock al Parque
– Rio Fucha Festival
– XXX International Jazz Festival of the Free Theater
I have also played at festivals such as the renowned SXSW in Austin, Texas, among others.
I was the winner of the recognized “XXX International Jazz Festival of the Free Theater”, one of the most important festivals in Latin America, with all of my compositions and new genre “Joropo-timba-jazz fusion”, played by his group “The Bará Group”.
I´ve had the opportunity to alternate with great groups like:
– Monsieur Perine
– Andres Cepeda
– Zaperoco
– Toto the Momposi
– Jon Faddis
– Daffer Youseff
– Davina and The Vagabonds
– Jacky Terrason
– Espen Eriksen Trio, among others.
I’ve recorded more than 200 tracks, being the first at a young age of 13, and of all kinds of genres, such as Funk, Fusion, Vallenato, Timba Cubana, Salsa, Joropo, Hall, Raspa, Bambuco, Swing jazz, Blues, R & B, among others. In 2018 he recorded four albums really important on his life, for the great saxophonist and Verve Records (Universal Music) artist Gianni Bardaro, a duo with the recognized Meinl Percussion artist “Fabio Ortiz”, with the recognized pianist of Colombia “Alex Pastrana Trio Project”, and his first album called “Bará” as a soloist with his group “The Bará Group”, with all his compositions.
I now am a professional electric Bass player, composer, musical director, arranger, producer, session artist, recording, live performance, proficient with most DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).
I’m fully endorsed by “Swan Custom Basses”, “Stonefield Music”, “TrickFish Amps”, “MEE Audio.
Professional”, “Analysis Plus Cables” and “Splice”.
I work with renowned producer “Kal Banx” and one of the biggest hip hop production records “TDE” (Top Dawg Entertainment). The last album I recorded was “NEW BEGINNINGS” from “Reason”, being on billboard top charts of 2020.
Right now, I’m working with more upcoming projects with Kal Banx, TDE and The Bará Group.
I’ll be releasing my new album on 2021 and some singles this month.
Has it been a smooth road?
Life is not easy, there’ll always be something that will be difficult, but nothing is impossible with the right attitude and desire.
The biggest challenge I’ve ever had is to leave my country and start a new life here in LA, beginning everything again is never easy, and mostly when you have a long and experienced career. But new starts are amazing too, you can learn from yourself, and I always said we will always have something to learn.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
The Bará Group is my project.
I’m the composer, arranger, producer and bass player, I’ve been creating music since 2014 with this project. I’ve won a couple of jazz awards and scholarships thanks to it.
I base my music in “Colombian joropo” and mix it with different music, such as “Cuban timba”, “Soul”, “RnB”, “Jazz”, “Funk”, and many more.
I too produce, arrange and record music for different artists, giving to it my unique touch.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think, live music will always be there, but concerts will change and there will not be that much concerts, because of technology, everything will be more computer wise.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 6266286707
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sgonzalezbass
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naireado/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKghbvmw07PS4Dh-yBM2uVg?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
Rodney Thurman, Oliver Sandino
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