Alfredo Naranjo
Alfredo Naranjo is a vibraphonist, composer, and arranger from Caracas, Venezuela. He began his musical studies early on at the Conservatorio de Música de la Orquesta Juvenil. After years of training, he joined the Orquesta Sinfónica Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho where he performed orchestral repertory as a percussionist. During this time Mr. Naranjo developed his interest in folkloric and Latin genres and focused on the vibraphone.
Alfredo Naranjo is a vibraphonist, composer, and arranger from Caracas, Venezuela. He began his musical studies early on at the Conservatorio de Música de la Orquesta Juvenil. After years of training, he joined the Orquesta Sinfónica Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho where he performed orchestral repertory as a percussionist. During this time Mr. Naranjo developed his interest in folkloric and Latin genres and focused on the vibraphone. In 1992 he traveled to New York on a scholarship from the Long Island University, attending the Jazz Music School in Harlem. He went on to play with important New York musicians, including Pete Yellin, Daniel Ponce, and Rolando Briceño.
He returned to Venezuela to record his first CD Cosechando. A year later he recorded his second CD A través del tiempo, which receiveed good international reviews and was included in Latin Beat’s International Hit Parade. In 1998 he signed an exclusive contract with the Venezuelan label Latin World and recorded his third CD, Vibraciones de mi tierra, which included guest musicians Arturo Sandoval, Ed Calle, and Ensamble Gurrufío. In 2000 he receiveed the Casa del Artista Award as the Year’s Best Instrumentalist. During that time he became a faculty member at the Instituto Universitario de Estudios Musicales (IUDEM) in Caracas.
Subsequently he recorded his fourth CD, Tributo a Joe Cuba, which took him on tour to Puerto Rico and the South of France and later became the soundtrack of the French movie Ferchaux, directed by Bernard Stora. Mr. Naranjo has also performed in concerts all over Venezuela, including the Water Brother Jazz Festival where he accompanied Al Jarreau, Tito Puente Jr., Ray Charles, and the Orquesta Aragón. He was also invited to participate as instrumentalist and arranger in the worldwide project Tocando Tierra. In addition, he has worked with world renowned musicians including Alex Acuña, Don Grusin, Abraham Laboriel, and Frank Quintero.
ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE
Led by Alfredo Naranjo and formed by a group of excellent Venezuelan musicians, El Guajeo has attained an impressive level of musicianship thanks to its extensive national and international experience.
El Guajeo has made music for film and television and has performed extensively accompanying various symphony orchestras in Venezuela. It has also participated in salsa festivals in the Caribbean and Europe.
Every member of the band teaches in different music schools and institutes in Venezuela. They have also made soundtracks for local networks and developed other important musical projects.
