“While influenced by note(d) jazz greats, Marín has never forgotten his roots, and it is this flavorful combination, which has made him one of the island’s top Latin jazz pianists and sought-after session musicians. Also, Marín has gained recognition for his diverse influences in fusion jazz – from Palmieri to Chick Corea to Keith Jarret – and his knowledge of the popular Latin songbook. Overall, he’s truly admired by his peers – and fans – for his adventurous artistic expression, as well as his passion for perfection.”

--Ian Malinow, San Juan Star

 

About Luis Marín,

 

Pianist, composer, arranger, band leader, and educator is considered one of Puerto Rico’s best Jazz pianist, most influential and sought-after studio musician and salsa pianist of our time.

 

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Luis Marín began studying piano at the age of seven. Studied Jazz Piano performance atBerklee College of Music, working on his natural craftmanship with Bill Davis, Ray Santisi, and Jeff Covell. While living in Boston performed with different bands, and was known throughout the city as a virtuous pianist and talented arranger. These groups included Caribbean Express (nominated for a Grammy® Award in 1987), Herman Johnson's Band (at Ryle's Jazz Club at Cambridge), and Jorge Arce’s Grupo Humano.

 

Looking for professional experience, in 1987 he took the Latin scene on as storm and immediately started displaying his talent with such Latin and Salsa icons as Andy Montañez, Cheo Feliciano, Juan Luis Guerra, and Rubén Blades, on both live presentations and musical recordings.

 

Marin has also shared the stage with Latin piano master Eddie Palmieri on various occasions, at Palmieri's own request on important concerts. In the Latin music genre, it is a high honor to be acknowledged by Palmieri.

 

On both 2003 and in 2013 Marin toured as a pianist with the celebrated group Fania All Stars. He has also shared the scenario and/or recorded with such Jazz and Salsa icons as Andy Montañez, Cheo Feliciano, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Celia Cruz, Willie Colón, Oscar D'León, Luis Enrique, Fania All Stars, Puerto Rico All Stars, Descarga Boricua, Orquesta del Día Nacional de la Salsa, Juan Luis Guerra, Victor Manuelle, Rubén Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Papo Lucca, Richie Ray, Marc Anthony, Bobby Valentín, Roberto Rohena, Tito Nieves, Jose Alberto "El Canario", Mickey Taveras, Johnny Rivera, Grupo Niche, Yuri Buenaventura, Grupo Galé, David Sanchez, Justo Almario, Ignacio Berroa, Eddie Gomez, Kenny Werner, Mario Bauzá, Tito Puente, Chick Corea, Dave Valentin, Chucho Valdés, Mario Rivera, Israel "Cachao" López, Giovanni Hidalgo, Brian Lynch, Edsel Gómez, Jerry Medina, Bobby Sanabria, Orestes Vilató, Batacumbele, Humberto Ramirez, William Cepeda, Mandy Vizoso, Carmen Delia Dipiní, Gilberto Monroig, Fernando Alvarez,  Lucy Fabery, Cucco Peña, Lucecita Benitez, Yolandita Monge, Ednita Nazario, Lourdes Robles, Marta Sanchez, Maridalia Hernandez, Adagilsa Pantaleón, Chucho Avellanet, Lunna, Danny Rivera, Fiel a la Vega, Tego Calderón, Don Omar, Daddy Yanquee, Julio Voltio and Tito "El Bambino", among others, on both live presentations and musical recordings.

 

His three productions showcase Luis Marin as a multi-talented well-rounded musician: pianist, composer, arranger, and band leader. His innovative proposals are a perfect mix of the jazz traditions with the Afro-Caribbean language.

 

"Inconsolable" (Luis Marin, 1999) his debut album in the jazz genre was received by the critics as one of the most important jazz albums in the local scene. On this album, Marín presents an anthology of classic bolero compositions of the 50’s, relevant to the repertoire of Puerto Rican singer Gilberto Monroig, being one, of the first recordings in the genre where the Puerto Rican songbook is addressed in the emerging movement Jazz decade of the 90's.

 

"Live at Niuyorican Cafe Vol II" (Tahoe Records,2002 ) a live recorded musical project, captures fleeting moments of improvisation and interpretation of Puerto Rican’s songbook classics as well as jazz standards in quartet format. Accompanied by Pedro Pérez on bass, Pablo Rivera on drums, and percussionist Paoli Mejías.

 

His latest release "The One" (Luis Marin, 2014) showcases Marin’s talent on a magical trip of diverse musical influences, exciting and introspective rhythms and heartfelt melodic and harmonic messages from the heart.

 

Marin is often recruited to record at different musical productions with well-known artists. His services are in demand by the biggest names in the Latin music industry.

 

Luis Marin, the educator, devotes a big portion of his time to share his music, knowledge and experience that span for more than thirty years, with the students of the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music (PRCM), in which he served as Department Chair from 2009-2014. At the PRCM Marin is the professor of the Piano Jazz & Caribbean Music studio since the opening of that undergraduate degree in 2004. He has also served as ensemble instructor, and as conductor of the Concert Jazz Orchestra. As an active clinician he has traveled to the U.S. and Latin America, lecturing in Panamá as part of the Panamá Jazz Festival (2010-2013), at Sam Houston University in Huntsville, Texas (2011 & 2013), Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA (2009), Jazz Festival of Chihuhua in Chihuahua, Mexico (2012), IVth International Congress of Music, Identity and Caribbean Culture,  (Conference: Jazz from the Caribbean Perspective), at the Centro Cultural Eduardo León Jimenes in Dominican Republic, at Columbia College, in Chicago, IL (2008), Universidad de Xalapa, at Xalapa, Mexico (2006), International Association of Jazz Educators Conference at New York, NY (2007),International Association of Jazz Educators Conference at Toronto, Canada (2008). Future clinics engagements include: a tour around the island for intermediate and high school students of Big Band ensembles in all six Free Schools of Music (magnet schools), and clinics at the Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain during summer session 2015.

 

Marín lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico with his daughters Marjorie Ana and María Luisa.