The Gustavo Cortiñas Quartet performs at the Smart as part of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, a weekend of free performances at cultural venues throughout the neighborhood.

FREE, open to all

About the Performers

A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans (BM Jazz, 2011), and Northwestern University (MM Jazz, 2013), drummer, composer, and educator Gustavo Cortiñas has developed a successful career in the U.S. for close to a decade, in addition to leading and accompanying ensembles on renowned stages and in festivals across North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe.

While in New Orleans, Cortiñas played with jazz icons such as Wayne Maureau, Johnny Vidacovich, John Mahoney, and Tony Dagradi, as well as the Collective Vision Sextet and Adam Rosado Big Band. He also developed a long-standing musical partnership with saxophonist Roy McGrath, with whom he has been playing since 2009 and on whose records Long Shot (New Orleans, 2010) and Martha (Chicago, 2014) he is featured.

Since coming to Chicago, Cortiñas has released the records Snapshot and Esse, and performs regularly, including at the 2017 Chicago Jazz Festival and as part of a Chicago Jazz Composers’ Collective residency at Green Mill. Cortiñas has become one of the in-demand drummers of this musical city, performing and recording regularly with his own band, as well as with the Javier Resendiz Imaginary Convertor, Kitt Lyles Real Talk, Erik Skov Group, Gros Pokossi, Justin Copeland, Roy McGrath Quartet, Hans Luchs, Tommy Muellner, Adam Thornburg, Yuyo Verde, Four Star Brass Band, and Adreian Davis, among others.

The musicians are: Gustavo Cortiñas (drums); Artie Black (tenor saxophone); Joaquín Garcías (piano); and Kitt Lyles (bass).

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Photo by Ken Kendall