Ruben Rodrigo Romero

• 2011 - 2016:

- More than 10 National First Place Awards as part of the "Santisimo Nombre de Jesus" Symphony Band.

• 2015:

- Student of the Year at "Tempo Escuela de Musica".

• 2016:

- Participated at the Jazz House Kids 2016 Summer Workshop directed by Christian Macbride under a Full-Tuition and Expenses Scholarship.
- Performed at the Montclair Jazz Festival, sharing stage with George Coleman, Christian Macbride and Dee Dee Bridgewater.
- Performed at Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center under the direction of Josh Evans.
- Performed at the Cordoba "Festibandas" Festival in Argentina.

• 2017:

- Conductor Assistant at Tempo School of Music's Symphony Band.

- Teacher Assistant at Altair High School.

- Performed at the 2017 International Jazz Festival in Peru.
- Performed at the Bambuco Festival in Cundinamarca, Colombia.

• 2018:

- Performed at the 2018 International Jazz Festival in Peru.
- Joined Vanguardia Peru Big Band.

• 2019:

- Music Tutor at Broward College.

- Joined Miami Pops Big Band.
- Recorded for Tito Puente Jr.

• 2020:

- Joined Lynch and Miranda Booking Agency.

- Joined and co-founded Barraspalooza.

- Founded RoD.

- Performed at the 2020 International Jazz Festival in Peru.

- Joined Luis Linares Big Band.

• 2021:

- Joined Mosaik Pop Orchestra.

- Released "Todo Que Decir" under Triple R Records.

- Released "Swimming Discs" under Triple R Records.

- Released "Uameid" under Triple R Records.

- Released "Prados y Flores" under Triple R Records.

- Jazz Department Office Assistant at Cali School of Music (MSU).

- Performed with the "Roy Hargrove Legacy Big Band" at The Jazz Gallery.

- Performed with Trevor New at Merkin Hall.

• 2022:

- Founded RoD & Arcadio Nonet.

- "Peru Tour 2022" with RoD's trio, quartet, quintet and nonet.

- Performed at NJMEA with University Singers.

- Teacher Assistant (TA) Excellence Award recipient from Jazz House Kids' Summer Workshop.

- Performed with Radam Schwartz's Big Band in Atlantic City.

• 2023:

- Recorded for Jaze's new album "Toy Lokazo".

- Performed with Radam Schwartz's Big Band at the Jersey City Jazz Festival with two standing ovations.

- Worked for the 2023 Montclair Jazz Festival as part of the Site Managing Team.

- Recorded debut group album, "Sipan".

• 2024:

- Performed with Andy Montañez at the Coney Island Summerstage Salsa Festival.

- Performed with Carrie Jackson at the African Cultural Arts Juneententh Festival.

- Performed with SonD'Kalle at the Se Llama Perú Summer Festival.

- Started working at the Jazz House Kids Summer Workshop as a TA Coordinator.

- Started working as a Woodwind Teaching Artist for Paterson Music Project.

- Performed with New Brunswick Brass Band at the New Brunswick Heart Festival.

- Performed with SonD'Kalle at the Woodbridge Salsa Festival.

David Fernandez, Josiah Boornazian, Randy Corinthian, Paul Ayick, David Schnitter, Anthony Stanco, Ismael Vergara, David Cabrejos, Rafael Fusa Miranda, Juan Daniel Pastor, Radam Schwartz, Mike Lee, Oscar Perez, Bruce Williams.

Singles

• Todo Que Decir (Triple R Records, 2021)
• Swimming Discs (Triple R Records, 2021)
• Uameid (Triple R Records, 2021)
• Prados y Flores (Triple R Records, 2021)

EP's

• Standards Vol. 1 (Triple R Records, 2021 - Available on Bandcamp only)

Videos and Online Media

• Solo.to Website Page: https://solo.to/rodmusic
• Facebook FanPage: https://facebook.com/rodrigoromeropmusic
• YouTube Online Video Channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UCfw5eK4gTG05z4eQwvIjGHg

Introduction

Rodrigo Romero is an award-winning saxophonist, composer, and educator currently active in Miami, New Jersey and Lima (Peru).

Early Years

Rodrigo began playing saxophone at age 11 under the tutelage of Abel Ponce Guevara, a former saxophonist of Afro-Peruvian Music Legend, Arturo "El Zambo" Cavero. He learned quickly, and he began performing at the main group of his school's Wind Symphony Band, winning more ten National Prizes around the country within his first five years as a member. In 2015, after studying for a few years with Latin Grammy Award Winner, Anibal Seminario, he got placed as first Tenor Saxophone on the Tempo Big Band and as first saxophone cair on the Tempo Symphony Band. His dedication determined the director's decision to hire Rodrigo as a Conductor Assistant for the school's program months later.

In 2016, after attending to a Masterclass from Jazz House Kids in Lima, Peru; he was honored with a Full Scholarship and Expenses Award for the present year's "Summer Workshop" under the artistic direction of Jazz Legend bassist, Christian Macbride. There, he had the opportunity to learn from World-Class aritsts and educators Mike Lee, Oscar Perez, Josh Evans and Bruce Williams, as well as performing at the 2016 Montclair Jazz Festival, Dizzy's Coca Cola Club at Lincoln Center and sharing stage with grand masters: Dee Dee Bridgewater and George Coleman. Later that year, David Cabrejos (one of Rodrigo's first mentors) called him to be part of Peru's most important Big Band, "Vanguardia Peru Big Band", in which he played with World-Class artists such as Adam Rapa, Rafael Fusa Miranda, Kike Purizaga and Ken Ychikawa.

Education

In 2018, Rodrigo began pursuing an Associate of Arts degree at Broward College in Broward County, Florida. At Broward, Romero was awarded as a Top Jazz Combo Scholarship recipient for four semesters consecutive, all semesters he attended Broward College. He was also hired as a part-time Music Tutor due to his academic excellence and enthusiasm towards Music education. His teachers and mentors include award-winning artists Dave Fernandez, Josiah Boornazian, Randy Corinthian, Paul Ayick and Anthony Stanco.

In 2020, after graduating from Broward College, Romero continued his education pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree at the Montclair State University's prestigious John Cali School of Music, in which he got both John Cali In-State Tuition Scholarship and a Merit Scholarship from the Music School due to his academic excellence. While studying remotely, he managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA score and perform in Masterclasses for Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra member, Camille Thurman, and present a self-produced Junior Recital alongside his band, performing original compositions and arrangements. Later on, he had the opportunity to perform and share the stage with several artists such as Wynton Marsallis, Trevor New, and Freddie Bryant. His teachers and mentors include World-Class artists Mike Lee, Oscar Perez, David Cook, Dave Stryker, Bruce Williams and Radam Schwartz.

Recording

As a recording artist, Rodrigo is featured on multiple studio and live projects as a leader, sideman and collaborator as a co-producer. Releases as a leader include Todo Que Decir (2021), Swimming Discs (2021), Uameid (2021), and Prados y Flores (2021) which feature Rodrigo's original compositions. Romero is also prominently featured as an improviser and session artist on tracks with artists such as Jaze, Kei.Ou Vanguardia Peru Big Band, JustDrums, J.A.D.Z, Laika En El Espacio, Cheesy Chains, Luis Linares Big Band, willwallz, and Mosaik.

Performing

As a performer, Rodrigo is primarily active in Miami, New Jersey, and his native state Lima (Peru). He has also toured South America, where he has performed at venues such as the Bambuco International Festival in Colombia; and Teatro de Córdoba in Argentina.

In South Florida, Rodrigo has performed with a variety of eminent artists including David Fernandez, Anthony Stanco, Paul Ayick, V-Keys (from Ghost Note and Snarky Puppy), Jocelyn Gould, Ismael Vergara, Randy Emerick and Miami Pops Big Band. Romero has appeared at many South Florida venues including the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Melton Mustafa Jazz Festival, Davie Jazz Festival, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Le Chat Noir, Lagniappe and WDNA Jazz Radio.

Notable New York/New Jersey performances include Dizzy's Coca-Cola Club at Lincoln Center and Montclair Jazz Festival, in which he shared stage with artists Julian Lee, Immanuel Wilkins, Christian Macbride, Oscar Perez and Josh Evans. He has also performed at well-known venues in the city such as The Jazz Gallery, Cellar Dog, Merkin Hall, Tavern on George, Ruthies and DLV just to name a few. In 2021, he got the opportunity to play with the Roy Hargrove Legacy Big Band, directed by baritone saxophonist, Jason Marshall. He shared the stage with artists Jerome Jennings, Renée Neufville, Josh Evans, Saul Rubin, Bruce Williams, and Mike Lee. Romero has also been working with Peruvian artist and guitarist/composer, Raul Abbad, looking to expand their knowledge on traditional Peruvian rhythms and share their culture among communities in the NJ/NYC music scene. 

Rodrigo has also performed in many of Lima's (Peru) premier venues, including the Teatro Nacional, Teatro Municipal de Lima, Teatro del Pentagonito, Festival Internacional de Jazz de Lima, Delfus Bar, El Paradero Cultural, El Jardin de Rosita, El Gato Tulipan, Tierra Baldia, and Celina Bar. Romero has performed with multiple artists such as Vanguardia Peru Big Band, Kike Purizaga, Luis Linares, Ken Ychikawa, Juan Daniel Pastor, Julio Flavio Maza, Rafael Fusa Miranda, David Cabrejos, Mahayana, Karl Schroth Quartet, and Mario Cuba Sextet. Additionally, Rodrigo has toured Peru extensively. He has performed in Junin, La Libertad, Ica, Arequipa, and Ayacucho.

Teaching

Rodrigo Romero is a highly versatile music educator. As a teacher assistant, Rodrigo has guided Altair High School groups of students towards their goals as woodwind enthusiasts and performers. He has also taught private tutoring sessions at Broward College and Montclair State University to music education, jazz performance, and music therapy students in need of advise for their Music Theory, Aural Skills, Sight Reading, Traditional and Contemporary Harmony, Jazz Improvisation and Saxophone courses. Romero also teaches online lessons from his private studio to hard-working music students from different countries and levels. He is also a founder and former member, jury and guest artist at Barraspalooza, an international rap/freestyle organization based in Miami, Florida.

Composition

As a registered composer, Rodrigo has written for a wide variety of musical settings, including works for large symphony ensemble, string quartet, solo saxophone, small jazz ensembles, percussion and woodwind ensembles in Lima (Peru), Florida and New Jersey. Earlier last year, Romero premiered his most recent project, RoD & Arcadio Nonet, at "El Paradero Cultural" in which they showcased original compositions and arrangements alongside top-tier Peruvian musicians and has played at some of the most recognized clubs in the area with all sold-out concerts. His project was recognized as the first Jazz Nonet in the history of Peru.

By the end of last year, Romero got hired by Peru's most acclaimed freestyler and hip-hop artist, Jaze, to record woodwinds and write a string quartet arrangement for his newest album, "Toy Lokazo". Said arrangement and solos have gotten around 5 million views on streaming platforms.

Rodrigo has recently partnered up with pianist and composer, Andres Sousa, whom which he recorded and produced an avant-garde album featuring their original compositions as well as a couple of collaborative pieces. "Sipan" will come out on December 2023 and has a Peruvian tour scheduled for the Summer in 2024. 

Additional information is available upon request and online at: solo.to/rodmusic

"Mr. Romero is a very talented Jazz saxophonist. He produces an excellent sound on his instrument and has an authentic jazz time-feel while improvising."

Josiah Boornazian

"The first time I heard him (Rodrigo Romero) perform in one of our school jazz combo forums I was taken aback by the beautiful, warm sound he produces on the saxophone."

Paul Ayick

"Meanwhile all the chaos we are living nowadays, there is always art that reconnects us. It generates harmony, something sublime, a game, a party, that has evolved into the elevation of the human being from prehistoric times. That being said, I highly recommend Rodrigo Romero's project, whom I consider the saxophonist of highest level in the country (Peru)."

Diego Arcadio

"As a saxophonist, he (Rodrigo Romero aka RoD) has performed at multiple world-class stages around the world, and it shows. He wrote a gorgeous modern jazz arrangement on Swimming Discs."

Beatradar Record Label

Sexual Abuse Awareness Training - 09/27/2024.

This Training Course is mandatory for all Teachers and Staff members at both institutions I work at due to the importance of being aware of how to behave around children and how to communicate with them in order to provide them a safe environment.