Dani Cortaza

Aires del Sur – The Sounds of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay - Dani Cortaza Quartet

Renowned guitarist Dani Cortaza returns to Blues Alley for this year’s Argentinian Jazz series, joined by an ensemble of gifted musicians. Together, they will present an unforgettable evening of music that blends jazz with the rich  and diverse musical traditions of Argentina and its neighbors, Brazil and Paraguay. The performance will feature unique jazz arrangements of classic standards and original compositions. Don’t miss this celebration of Latin American music, artistry, and cultural heritage.

Dani Cortaza - guitar
Abraham Olivo - piano
Athus Fernando de Lima - bass
Lucas Ashby - drums
Guest artists:
Memo Pelayo - flute
Cecilia Esquivel - vocals

Guitarist Dani Cortaza brings nearly four decades of artistic experience to his career as a performer, composer, arranger, and educator. A versatile musician, he specializes in Brazilian jazz, Latin jazz, and South American folklore, performing on both nylon-string and electric jazz guitar. He is also recognized for his work composing and arranging Latin American folk music.

Throughout his career, Dani has performed at prestigious venues and festivals around the world, including engagements in Japan, Europe, South America, and the United States. After two decades of acclaimed international performances with a variety of musicians and ensembles, a special concert at the Kennedy Center brought him to Washington, DC, in 2002, where he has since made his home.

Dani is the founder and director of two dynamic ensembles specializing in Latin jazz and Brazilian music. He has collaborated with renowned international and local artists and has performed with his own groups at venues and events including Blues Alley, the Smithsonian Jazz Café, the Silver Spring Jazz Festival (2007, 2008, and 2016), and GALA Theatre, among others.

His artistic achievements have been recognized with two Maryland State Arts Council “Artistic Excellence” Awards: in 2007, for Best Performer and Arranger in the Instrumental Music category, and in 2017, for Best Composer in the World Music category. In 2007, his CD Expressions also received a Wammie nomination for Best Jazz Album.

Over the course of his career, Dani has contributed to more than 360 recordings as a guitarist, arranger, and producer. One of his ongoing artistic projects focuses on creating new compositions and arrangements that blend South American folk traditions with jazz influences. In recognition of this work, he received a 2012 grant from FONDEC (Paraguay’s National Endowment for the Arts) to produce his album Together/Oñondivé. The recording features original compositions and arrangements of Paraguayan and South American folk music enriched with elements of jazz. The CD was recorded and mixed at Dani’s professional studio, InTune Recording, in Adelphi, Maryland.

In 2023, Dani received a Grammy certificate as a Recording Engineer for his participation in the album Escalona Nunca se Había Grabado Así by internationally acclaimed artist Carlos Vives, because some of the album’s vocal tracks were recorded at Dani’s studio, InTune Recording, in Adelphi, Maryland.

Co-Presented with the Embassy of Argentina