Carlos Jimenez

Carlos Jimenez is an extraordinary flute player and vocalist, as well as composer and bandleader of Jazz, Latin Jazz and Salsa who has received numerous awards and recognition for his musical accomplishments and contributions. Born in Yonkers, New York, his family moved to Villaba, Puerto Rico when he was six years old. It was there that his musical training began. From a young age, Carlos had an aptitude for percussion and played timbales, bongos and congas. His first lyrical instrument was trumpet, which he studied under Professor Pablo Leon at Francisco Zayas Santana High School. However, he was so inspired and moved hearing the flute as the lead instrument in Song for You by Mongo Santamaria that he dedicated himself to mastering the flute. Thus began his early days as a flutist and his passion for the instrument. Carlos returned to New York as a young adult to pursue his dream of becoming a jazz flutist. He began studying classical flute at the Music Conservatory of Westchester under Dave Fenucane before expanding his repertoire to include jazz. He studied privately as well; theory, composition and piano with Mike Longo and piano with Hilton Ruiz. To date, Carlos has recorded nine albums of his own compositions and arrangements.