Colombian jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda to perform on campus

Yale Bands and Creative Concerts Inc. will present a concert featuring Colombian jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. in Morse Recital Hall, 470 College St.

Castaneda will perform solo and with his trio, which also features Marshall Gilkes on trombone and Dave Silliman on drums and percussion. Special guest will be vocalist Andrea Tierra. Tickets are $35 for the balcony and $25 for the orchestra, and can be purchased online, in person at the box office, 470 College St., or by phone at 203-432-4158.

Born in 1978 in Bogota, Colombia, Castaneda has gained notoriety for his harp playing since moving to the United States in 1994. He has developed his own style by playing melody and bass simultaneously. Comments the harpist: “With my left hand, I play the bass and the groove, and with my right hand I play the melody and harmony. If you close your eyes, you can hear two or three instruments playing at the same time.”

Castaneda has also performed with Paquito D’Rivera, Wynton Marsalis, John Scofield, Chico O’Farrill, and John Patifucci. He has also gained recognition as a composer.

A “Tiny Desk Concert” featuring Castaneda can be seen on the NPR website.

The concert is also being presented in collaboration with the Council on Latin American and Iberian Studies at The MacMillan Center for International & Area Studies at Yale.