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About-
Saoco Latin Band
🎶About -Saoco Latin Big Band
What do you get when you mix over 25 years of teaching experience, a deep passion for Latin American music, and an insatiable curiosity for exploring music firsthand?
You get Saoco Latin Big Band, a powerful musical project created and directed by Paul De Castro.
What do you get when you mix over 25 years of teaching experience, a deep passion for Latin American music, and an insatiable curiosity for exploring music firsthand?
You get Saoco Latin Big Band, a powerful musical project created and directed by Paul De Castro.
“I recently left academia to dedicate myself full-time to composing and arranging original music—music shaped by decades as a music professor, my hands-on knowledge of instruments like the piano and corneta china, and my travels around the world.”
The origins of Saoco Latin Big Band go back to late 2023, when Paul was commissioned by the university he was retiring from to compose a big band piece for a celebratory concert featuring multiple composers. Though initially hesitant, he found the experience both fun and creatively fulfilling. The result —Chachachá Académico— was not only well received by the audience, but also by the musicians performing it.
That success sparked a new chapter: the birth of Saoco Latin Big Band.
“I recently left academia to dedicate myself full-time to composing and arranging original music—music shaped by decades as a music professor, my hands-on knowledge of instruments like the piano and corneta china, and my travels around the world.”
The origins of Saoco Latin Big Band go back to late 2023, when Paul was commissioned by the university he was retiring from to compose a big band piece for a celebratory concert featuring multiple composers. Though initially hesitant, he found the experience both fun and creatively fulfilling. The result —Chachachá Académico— was not only well received by the audience, but also by the musicians performing it.
That success sparked a new chapter: the birth of Saoco Latin Big Band.
A New Take on Old Favorites
Fans of Orquesta Dengue will be excited to hear that some of those iconic tracks have been reimagined for this new big band format. Songs like "Hermeto" and "Azulejos" now pack even more punch with lush arrangements and dynamic energy.
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The project also includes updated versions of earlier works such as "Homenaje"—originally composed in 1987 as a tribute to two of Paul’s favorite teachers at PCC: jazz legends Bobby Bradford and Gary Foster.
A Journey Through Latin America in
Every Notes
The Saoco Latin Big Band doesn’t just stick to mambo and Latin jazz. Paul’s new compositions explore a wide range of Afro-Latin rhythms, including festejo from Peru and partido alto from Brazil, pushing creative boundaries while staying rooted in authentic musical traditions.
🔥 A New Take on Old Favorites
Fans of Orquesta Dengue will be excited to hear that some of those iconic tracks have been reimagined for this new big band format. Songs like "Hermeto" and "Azulejos" now pack even more punch with lush arrangements and dynamic energy.
​
The project also includes updated versions of earlier works such as "Homenaje"—originally composed in 1987 as a tribute to two of Paul’s favorite teachers at PCC: jazz legends Bobby Bradford and Gary Foster.
🌎 A Journey Through Latin America in
Every Notes
What the Critics Say?
“De Castro displays an intimate familiarity with the modern world of Cuban dance music, writing complex pieces that respect the aesthetics of the style at every turn. The strength of his approach lies in his consistent dedication to jazz, as he thoughtfully finds ways to stay true to the jazz tradition.
Pianist Paul De Castro and his band tap into timba, songo, jazz, and more—delivering an exciting set of modern, intelligent, and hip music.”
- Chip Boaz, The Latin Jazz Corner, USA
“Paul De Castro truly loves and feels music and respects its roots. Not only is he a music professor, but he actually practices what he preaches.”
-Eric González, Herencia Latina, Puerto Rico
“De Castro takes us on a musical journey full of surprising sounds and colors within the boundaries of Latin jazz and Afro-Cuban music.”
-Rudy Mangual, Latin Beat Magazine USA
“De Castro brings together his musicians and compositions into an engaging musical statement—both likable and intricate, simultaneously danceable and intriguing.
The powerful musical results present an inspiring message to the modern Latin jazz world about the endless possibilities behind dance-oriented Latin jazz. Hopefully, it starts a trend that many musicians will follow.”
-Chip Boaz, The Latin Jazz Corner USA
