Justo Almario,
a multitalented master saxophonist , flutist, clarinetist, composer, arranger and clinician, has a long list of
distinguished accomplishments. His style is a fusion of Jazz, South American, and other world rhythms
which are a reflection of his own elegant yet humble style. Mr. Almario’s mesmerizing sounds have been
heard in Grammy-Award winning works such as Linda Ronstadt’s “Frenesi,” Placido Domingo’s “A Mi
Alma Latina,” Luis Miguel’s “Romance,” Andrae Crouch’s “Mercy,” and Isreal Lopez Cachao’s “Master
Sessions” & “Ahora Si;” as well as the Oscar-winning soundtracks from Happy Feet and Sideways.
Mr. Almario’s playing has been featured on diverse projects, such as Queen Latifah’s “Living Outloud,”
Jennifer Lopez’s hit HBO Special “Let’s Get Loud,” Andy Garcia’s “The Lost City,” and John Turturo’s
“Romance and Cigarette” staring Susan Sarandon and James Gadolfini. Mr. Almario has also been
featured on various Platinum and Gold records and soundtracks, including “More Dirty Dancing”, “Wow
Worship,” and Ron Kenoly’s “Lift Him Up.”
In 2002, while joining the ranks of Cedar Walton, Terrence Blanchard and Joe Lovano, Mr. Almario
became an integral part of the Newport Jazz Festival Tour, produced by George Wein. Additional
performance credits include Patrice Rushen’s Grammy Award orchestra, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Ayers,
Diane Reeves, George Duke, Sergio Mendes, Billy Higgins, Tito Puente, Machito, Dave Grusin, Ndugu
Chancler, Kenny Burrell, Master P, Bebe Winans, Queen Latifah, Charles Mingus, Chaka Kahn, Herb
Alpert, Bobby Shew, and many others.
He has also produced, co-lead and played on TOLU’s “Rumbero’s Poetry” as well as Grammy-nominated
album, “El Bongo de Van Gogh”. Mr. Almario’s latest album, “Love Thy Neighbor”, features his quartet
playing original compositions as well as rare standards.
A man for all seasons, Mr. Almario was the featured soloist with the Los Angeles Master Chorale at the
Walt Disney Hall’s Season Opener, where he later performed at a Christmas concert “Celebrar.” Mr.
Almario’s stellar career was recently celebrated during a segment of “Stories,” a comprehensive oral
history series that chronicles the evolution of jazz, at the legendary drummer Billy Higgins’ World Stage.
Currently, Mr. Almario is working on an album that is meant to celebrate his tenured career spanning 45
years in the industry.
A native of Colombia, Mr. Almario went from child protégé to virtuoso. Mr. Almario was primarily influenced
by John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Bartok, Debussy and Bach. He studied at
the prestigious Berklee College of Music before doing a stint with Mongo Santamaria as the band’s
musical director. He has also taught at the Henry Mancini Institute and has mentored inner city youth
during workshops at the World Stage. These days, he teaches saxophone in the Jazz Department at UCLA’s Music School.
Discography
Grammy winning Albums:
2004 Cachao’s:Ahora Si
1998 Romance – Luis Miguel
1994 Andrae Crouch’s – Mercy
1994 Cachao’s: Master Sessions Vol. 1!
Solo Albums:
2003 Tranquil Moods: Prelude
2003 Tranquil Moods: Forever Friends
1995 Count Me In
1994 Justo Almario & Abraham Laboriel
1992 Heritage
1989 Family Time
1987 Plumbline
1985 Forever Friends
1981 Interlude!
Also Appears On:!
2011 Mongorama
2010 Bom Tempo – Sergio Mendes
2008 Encanto – Sergio Mendes
Wave-Aid: The First Three Years
2004 …Compared to What?
2003 Jazz from the Heart
2003 Latin Jazz Christmas
2003 Tranquil Moods [Delta Box]
2002 Latin Jazz: La Combinacion Perfecta (Smithsonian Institute)
2001 Jazz on the Latin Side Allstars, Vol. 2
2001 Playboy’s Latin Jazz Christmas: A Not So Silent Night
2000 Bill Cantos: Who are you
2000 Jazz on the Latin Side Allstars, Vol. 1
2000 Latin Jazz: Hot & Cool! [Music Club]
1999 Just the Ticket
1999 Melodies for Meditation
1998 Uno Melodic Story
1996 Selah, Vol. 2: Original Improvisations of the Holy
Other Appearances:
1995 Helen Baylor’s: The Live Experience
1995 Cachao’s: Master Sessions Vol. 2
1994 Placido Domingo: A Mi Alma Latina
1987 Diane Reeves
1986 Poncho Sanchez: Papa Gato
1986 Koinonia: Frontline
1985 Meadowlark Records Sampler 1985
1984 Tania Maria: Love Explosion
1984 Koinonia: Celebration
1982 Koinonia: More than a Feeling
1980 Fela Kuti and Roy Ayers: Music of Many Colors
1976 Mongo Santamaria:Ubane
1975 Mongo Santamaria: Afro-Indio
1973 Mongo Santamaria: Fuego
Film Credits include:
Rio (Academy Award Nominated)
Cachao Uno Mas
Kung Fu Panda
Happy Feet – (Academy Award winner)
Lost City
Sideways (Academy Award winner)
Romance and Cigarettes
Just The Ticket
Living Out Loud
Producer credits include:
Love Thy Neighbor – Produced and arranged
Rumbero’s Poetry – co-produced with Alex Acuna
Soul Song – a duet project with Marcos Ariel