Oscar Caucaly

Oscar Caucaly’s musical story begins in Bogotá, where as a teenager he immersed himself in salsa and Latin jazz. Those early years—filled with clave, improvisation, and rhythmic exploration—became the foundation of his artistic identity. From there, he dove deeply into the jazz tradition, embracing bebop language, straight-ahead repertoire, and modern jazz concepts that would define his evolving voice.

After studying at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, he continued his formation in Barcelona at the Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu, supported by Fundación Carolina. He later completed a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at New York University, where he worked closely with masters such as Alan Broadbent and Ari Hoenig, and performed under the direction of Alan Ferber and Chris Potter at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City.

As a bandleader, Oscar released Cardamomo in 2015. He is also co-founder of the La Zebra Azul Orchestra, whose album Cayengue is a vibrant exploration of Latin American and Caribbean musical landscapes. Featuring entirely original compositions, the project moves through bolero, calypso, milonga, cumbia, and jazz, all framed within a big band sound world rich in texture and contemporary orchestration.

His latest recording, The Call of Pachamama (2026), features Morgan Guerin, Daniel Bereket, Alex Heffron, Ryoma Takenaga, and Ele Howell. The album reflects his synthesis of Afro-Latin roots, modern jazz harmony, and the rhythmic vitality that has defined his path from the very beginning.

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