MIAMI, United States. – Cuban pianist Javier “Caramelo” Gutiérrez Massó has captivated the world with his exceptional ability to fuse diverse musical styles such as Cuban music, flamenco and jazz.
Caramelo ―nickname given to him by the famous flamenco singer Enrique Morente― has worked with an impressive list of Cuban and international music luminaries, including Celia Cruz, Omara Portuondo, Paquito D’Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, Paco de Lucía, Enrique Morente and Diego “El Cigala”, among many others.
Based in Spain since 1992, he has collaborated on various musical projects, fusing flamenco with jazz together with leading Spanish artists.
Considered one of the forerunners of the best jam sessions in Madrid, it has been described by the Spanish newspaper The country and the specialized critic of the prestigious UK jazz magazine, UK Jazz Magazineas creator of the best Jam Session in all of Europe between 2003 and 2005.
“We have in our country a great new jazz piano talent”, was what the teachers said about him chucho valdes, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and others, when they discovered Gutiérrez Massó at the first International Jazz Plaza Festival in Havana in 1984.
Gutiérrez Massó’s style, original and contemporary, spans between Cuban music, flamenco and jazz, defining his personal stamp and contributing to his international recognition. His performances over the years at the world’s leading jazz festivals confirm his status as one of the most relevant international Latin jazz pianists.
His art and talent have been repeatedly recognized. In 1992, the Cuban television program My sauce among musicians awarded him “Best Arranger of the Year” and “Best Young Jazz Pianist”. In 2006, the Rey Juan Carlos University awarded him the UJR6 Honorable Mention for “Best jazz player of the year”. In 2012, he was nominated for the Latin Grammys in the category of “Best Latin Jazz Album”.
