Carlos Medrano born in Havana, Cuba, began his musical studies as an autodidact with Bongos and Congas using traditional Cuban music and Rumba as his guide. After a few years of studying, training, and taking part in folkloric and timba projects, he decided to broaden his musical knowledge by beginning a course of musical studies in the Escuela de Superacion Profesional de Arte “Felix Varela y Morales” where he began to create his foundation for Latin Jazz fusion within other musical projects in Cuba. He remembers with great satisfaction and happiness the times when he was a student of some of the most famous international Cuban percussionists. He had also had the satisfaction of meeting some of the finalists of the International Barreto en Memorian competition in Havana, Cuba also known as La Fiesta del Tambor in 2005. Before arriving to the United States in March 2008, he worked with a well- known pianist from Cuba, Alexis Bosch. After extensive participation in various music grou ps, he decided to start his own projects with local Bay Area musicians. With The Viñales Project and Sabor De Mi Cuba Carlitos debuted with his musical talents through original songwriting and composition. The fundamental characteristics of these projects are fusion of Afro-Cuban roots influenced by world music. The Viñales Project and Sabor De Mi Cuba hope to bring forth edginess to local exponents of music in the BayArea. In 2012, he decided to create his own recording entitled Sabor De Mi Cuba, where he experimented with composition and arrangements. The project was recorded and mastered in the prestigious Egrem Studios in Havana, Cuba, and is defined as a beautiful, swinging recording, full of elaborate and fresh arrangements, interesting use of chorus, influenced by the genres of rumba and jazz.
