Urbanessence by Tito Carrillo

I love the energy of the city, always have. Having been born in Austin, TX, and raised musically in Chicago, I've always been drawn to the melting pot, the high-energy pace, the festivals, the food, the diversity of cultures, and, of course, the music. As my career as a performer morphed into a career as a performer/educator, life has taken me out of the city for a number of years. I've adjusted for the sake of stability and family, and I wouldn't change it, but my heart has never left the city. This album draws from my years in Chicago, playing jazz with greats like Willie Pickens, Kurt Elling, and Ryan Cohan; playing Latin jazz with the late bassist and mentor Richie Pillot (R.I.P.), Chinchano with Juan Pastor, and backing up giants like salsa legend Andy Montañez; playing gospel music as part of the worship band for St. Sabina Church and Father Michael Phleger on Chicago's South Side; and performing several times at the Chicago Jazz Festival and Hyde Park Jazz Festival, both as a leader and a sideman. These 9 originals (plus 1 non-Tito original by Phil Kocheril) seek to blend and meld my experiences into one language, rather than keep them as separate experiences inside my memory. Through my life lens, Urbanessence is one musical landscape - and I'm thrilled to now share it with you.

Tito Carrillo is a trumpeter, composer, and educator, whose music blurs the lines between Afro-Caribbean music traditions and modern jazz. Carrillo came to prominence in the mid 90’s in Chicago’s rich jazz and Latin music scenes, becoming a top call soloist, sideman, and bandleader. His critically-acclaimed solo debut album Opening Statement was released on the Origin Records label in 2011.