Julio "Jimmy" Ledezma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The musician Julio "Jimmy" Ledezma was born in Posadas, Province of Misiones, Argentina. At 6 years old started playing in Scolas do Samba (Samba Schools) in this city heavily influence by Brazilian music. Won 4 awards consecutive years in Posadas Misiones and in later years participated in the "Defensores de la Patria" Scola do Samba based in Porto Alegre, performing in Florianópolis and Lagoa, Brazil. About at the same age started studying Piano, Guitar and Drums in Buenos Aires Conservatory (Posadas Misiones) for 5 years and continued at the Fracassi Conservatory for another two years. In 1973 moved to Rosario Argentina to continued his education and studied music at SADAIC (Musician Union of Argentina).
In 1978 moved to the United States of America and in 1981 joined the band Arco Iris. Since then has recorded five albums composing and playing: Drums, Guitar, Charango and Bombos Legueros. One of the songs he composed -Peace Pipes- with world distribution trough Passport Jazz, was 17 on the Radio Performance Charts.
He also performs Bombos, Charango and Guitar with the Glendale Philharmonic conducted by fellow Argentinean Composer and Director Lalo Schifrin at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Also with Arco Iris, under the direction of Lalo Shiffrin played Charango and Bombos Legueros as part of the Movie Score of the Shirley MacLaine's "Out on a Limb". Is feature playing the Peruvian Cajon with a Flamenco Band in the last movie produced by Spike Lee and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood "Love and Basketball".
Is currently a member of the Andean Group Huayucaltia, with whom he has recorded four albums, one of them winner of the 1989 Indy Award in Los Angeles, California. In the last album of this band, "Destinos" Julio's composition titled "Para Aymara" was chosen by the world recognized Native American organization Four Winds as the title track of their last "Red Feather" World Sounds Compilation. He also played and recorded in the last Gloria Loring CD.
Julio has composed the music for the Short Movie "Share the Vision", winner of First Place at Valencia Independent as the Best Educational Feature, and Top Applause Award. This same film is nominated at the Burbank Independent Film Festival.
Was invited to play as a guest artist with Al De Meola and Stanley Clark at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1993 as a percussionist sharing the stage with, George Duke in piano, Chester Thompson on drums, Al in guitar and Stanley in bass. Julio is an International artist capable of composing and performing different South and Central American as well all Latin Styles.
