Julio "Jimmy" Ledezma
| Julio "Jimmy" Ledezma | |
|---|---|
 Jimmy Ledezma on the Kike San Martín Studio in Miami in 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Julio Ledezma |
| Origin | Posadas, Misiones, Argentina |
| Genres | Rock, pop, New Wave, jazz, progressive rock, |
| Occupations | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion, guitar, charango, bombos, cajon |
| Associated acts | band Arco Iris |
| Website | Jimmy Ledezma official site |
Julio "Jimmy" Ledezma (born March 28) is an Argentine-born American musician, born in Posadas, Province of Misiones, Argentina.
Early life
At 6 years old Ledezma started playing in Scolas do Samba (Samba Schools) in this city heavily influenced by Brazilian music. He 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 he 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 he moved to Rosario Argentina to continued his education and studied music at SADAIC (Musician Union of Argentina).
Career
In 1978 Ledezma moved to the United States of America[1] and in 1981 joined the band Arco Iris. Since then he has recorded five albums composing and playing drums, guitar, charango and bombos legueros. One of the songs he composed, "Peace Pipes", with world distribution through Passport Jazz, reached no. 17 on the Radio Performance Charts.[citation needed]
He also performs bombos, charango and guitar with the Glendale Philharmonic conducted by fellow Argentine composer and director Lalo Schifrin at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Also with Arco Iris, under the direction of Lalo Shiffrin, he played charango and bombos legueros as part of the score of the Shirley MacLaine movie Out on a Limb. He played the Peruvian Cajon with a flamenco band in the last movie produced by Spike Lee and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood Love and Basketball.[citation needed]
Huayucaltia
Ledezma is currently a member of the Andean Group Huayucaltia, with whom he has recorded four albums.[2] One of them was the winner of the 1989 Indy Awards in Los Angeles, California.[3]
The full spectrum of Latin American music – from traditional to contemporary – has been explored by Los Angeles-based band,[4] Huayucaltia. The group blends Andean folk music, jazz, classical and nueva cancion (new song). The recipients of a National Association of Independent Record Distributors And Manufacturers (now American Association of Independent Music) award for "Best Latin Music Album" for their 1989 album Horizontes, Huayucaltia has been hailed by the press for their unique approach to Latin music.[citation needed]
In the last album of this band, Destinos, Ledezma's composition titled "Para Aymara" was chosen by the Native American organization Four Winds as the title track of their last "Red Feather" World Sounds Compilation. He also played and recorded on the last Gloria Loring CD.[citation needed]
Ledezma 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.[citation needed]
He was invited to play as a guest artist with Al Di Meola and Stanley Clarke at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1993 as a percussionist sharing the stage with George Duke on piano, Chester Thompson on drums, Di Meola on guitar and Clarke in bass.[citation needed]
Wild Colonials
Ledezma also performed on Fruit of Life, the debut album for American Alternative band Wild Colonials, released in 1994.
Personal life
Ledezma lives in Marina Del Rey, California.[citation needed]
External links
References
- ↑ "Jimmy Ledezma: un músico posadeño que vive hace 30 años en Estados Unidos (Spanish)". El Territorio newspaper. 06/05/2008. Retrieved 2011-08-29.
- ↑ "Huayucaltia's Biography: Antonio Ezkauriatza, Julio "Jimmy" Ledezma and Ciro Hurtado". Billboard Magazine. 2007-06-16. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
- ↑ Music Review: Huayucaltia Puts Accent on Its Multicultural Roots, Los Angeles Times, by Josef Woodard, 07/18/1994
- ↑ "Walt Disney Concert Hall: Huayucaltia at The Hollywood Bowl". Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl. 03/05/2010. Retrieved 2011-09-13.