My first memory is lying with my mum in her bed as a baby. My childhood is full of happy moments with my family and friends. From my mother I’ve Inherited her sensitivity. I am introverted like my dad. My musical life began learning the piano at the age of 8 and then the church organ when I was 11. Everything changed one Saturday evening when I heard Duke Ellington on the radio. It was after a Saturday music day, and my journey into jazz began. When I was 16, I bought Mark Levine’s guide to Jazz Harmony, which enhanced my desire to learn how to play jazz. I taught myself jazz piano all throughout my undergraduate studying the organ. I started writing my own compositions at the age of 19 and have continued writing music up to this day. The most useful piece of advice I’ve been given is ‘keep playing your instrument.’ This was said to me by many people mainly older musicians I have worked with, who taught me so much by how they live and breathe music in their lives on a daily basis.
I fell in love with Latin music playing in a local band with some keen older musicians, and the drummer was Brazilian/Argentinian. We used to rehearse once a week and play quite a lot of latin jazz standards. With the band I started learning some Chick Corea songs. These compositions hugely impacted my love for latin jazz. He is a genius composer. I was invited to Cuba to perform in a few concerts and discovered an amazing musical culture, food and atmosphere. The climate in Cuba was very different to London and it was amazing watching some of the young Cuban jazz musicians performing. The musician who has most inspired me is Omar Puente I was called lindo by a woman in the street in Cuba which I found really funny. Latin American people are very friendly. Someone gave me a few shots of rum one evening. I swam in the Caribbean, drunk cocktails and sweated a lot on the bus!
The Latin artist I’d most like to play with is Alex Acuna
My favourite Latino place in London to hang out is Bar Salsa
If I didn’t live in London I’d like to live in Buenos Aires My favourite word in Spanish is lindo (also in portuguese)
To see Jonny Liebeck play live at LatinoLife Intimo dinner-concerts book here
