Percussionist,  Educator,

Recording  Artist                      

        Willie Garza - Bio

iEquipment  Endorsements

Willie Garza resides in San Jose, California serving the Greater Bay Area as a performer, educator and recording artist. He has performed and recorded with several local artists and groups such as Charangon Nueve, The Saul Kaye Band, , Kaweh, Latin Lingo, Marc Russo and the Classy Cats, Full Spectrum, Mambo Tropical, Caixa, Silicon Vibe, Fito Reinoso, Piano y Son, San Jose State Latin Jazz Ensemble, KIDGUCH, BukleBros, Audio Dub, Latin Funk Express, White Roses. His most current groups or artists include, JT Horns, favored nations recording artist James Robinson, Calitolia and Willie’s duo group, Juntos y Dos, with Latin-percussionist, Luis Carranza.

His most current groups or artists include; KIDGUCH, JT Horns, James Robinson Group, Latin Funk Express, Los Wavones, and Willie’s duo group, Juntos y Dos, with Latin-percussionist, Luis Carranza. Throughout his career he has had the opportunity to work with and perform with artists and groups such as; Trombonist, Conrad Herwig, Hal Galper Quintet, Vibraphonist and Marimba Master, Dave Samuels, Composer/Pianist, Eugenio Toussaint, Trombonist/Composer, Rob McConnel, Saxophonist, Richie Cole, Latin-percussionist/Composer, Pete Escovedo, Gabriel Espinosa y su grupo Ashanti, Jazz y Salsa Alto Maiz, Saxophonist/Composer, Benny Golsen. Maja with musicians, Mylious Johnson, on Drums, Alex Alessandroni and Jason Chapman on Keyboards, Asa ‘ACE’ Livingston on Bass.

Willie Garza was born and raised in San Jose, California. In the younger years of his life, music was always around him in some sort of way. At the age of ten, Willie was introduced to the trumpet. When learning music through playing trumpet, he felt something deep inside and knew it was his destiny to play music for the rest of his life.

In high school, music was his main focus. During this time of his life, he was forming his music foundation. Focusing on trumpet primarily, until one day his band director said something that changed his path in music. He said, “The more music you get yourself involved in, the better musician you’ll become.” After that, Willie started to sing in concert choir. Eventually, he was able to get into the Mt. Pleasant Studio Jazz Singers, a group that had a national reputation winning approximately thirteen National Down Beat music awards at that time. The group was under the direction of Jan DeShera. Being fortunate to be part of winning two National Down Beat Awards for Vocal Jazz Performance. The group performed at the 1st Annual Monterey Jazz Festival at Sea Cruise, Ensanada, Mexico. In addition, performed on the main stage at Monterey Jazz Festival. Other performances included; Pacific Basin Music Festival, Honolulu, Hawaii, International Association of Jazz Educators (I.A.J.E.) convention, Anaheim, California, and San Jose Jazz Festival. During this time, Willie was also performing on trumpet and Latin- percussion with Portuguese group, Alcides y Legacy. At his last year of high school, he received the, James J. Guido Salute to Youth Award given by the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County, State of California.

The next journey in his life began at the Phil Mattson’s School for Music Vocations. Here he developed a stronger foundation studying classical and jazz piano, trumpet, voice, instrumental and vocal arranging, among other subjects. Having great opportunities studying with many great teachers, performing in all genres of music, there was something said that gave him inspiration. “If you’re not practicing as much as you should, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. It just means that you’re cheating yourself and ultimately you’ll have to cheat someone else.”

After graduating from School for Music Vocations, Willie attended the University of Northern Iowa (U.N.I.) majoring in trumpet performance and jazz studies. In his first year attending, he played trumpet and Latin-percussion in U.N.I. Jazz Band 1, which was one of the premier collegian jazz bands in the country. The band was under the direction of Pianist/Composer/Arranger, Bob Washut. Willie was fortunate to be part of winning another National Down Beat Award for Big Band Performance. The group performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, Lostrott 106 in Belgium, Tallcorn Jazz Festival, and the Kansas City Jazz Festival.

For Booking Gigs, Workshops, Lessons in Central California

please contact me via email

            willie@williegarza.com

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