Cesar Orozco & SonAhead’s Album Release

César Orozco is a Cuban born pianist, vocalist, violinist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator based in the NYC Tri-State area. Orozco spent 14 years in Venezuela, where he developed an important and prolific career. In 2012, Orozco moved to the United States and enrolled with a full tuition Assistantship to The Peabody Institute of John Hopkins University in Baltimore, where he earned a Graduate Performance Diploma (GPD) in Jazz Piano. He also holds a degree in Violin Performance and Ensemble Conducting from the National School of Arts in Havana, Cuba. Some of the artists he has worked with include Paquito D’Rivera, Pedrito Martinez, Gary Thomas, Alex Norris, Mike Stern, Troy Roberts, Paul Bollenback, Albita Rodriguez, Tony Succar, Guaco, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Luis Enrique, and Giovanni Hidalgo just to name a few. Orozco has participated in more than 80 albums including seven on his own. He is a 2025 Latin Grammy winner for Best Arrangement with 2 previous nominations (2019 & 2021) in the same category. He is also a Cubadisco and Independent Music Award winner. Orozco has developed an innovative approach to a fusion of Venezuelan and Cuban traditional music with Jazz along with his project Kamarata Jazz. His newest band SonAhead speaks to its essence: a fusion of Cuban son and timba, with elements of modern jazz and electronic music, where, in addition to his work on piano, arrangements and compositions, Orozco takes center stage as the lead vocalist. Since 2025, Mr Orozco is part of the Tony Award-winning production of Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway as a sub-conductor and pianist. SonAhead is the latest project of Cuban-Venezuelan pianist, vocalist, composer, arranger, violinist, and educator Cesar Orozco, who is also a 2025 Latin Grammy winner for Best Arrangement. In addition to his work on piano, arrangements, and compositions, Orozco takes center stage as the lead vocalist, marking an exciting new chapter in his career. The name “SonAhead” speaks to its essence: a fusion of Cuban son—a foundational genre for what we now recognize as salsa—infused with elements of modern jazz, electronic music, and Cuban timba, a vibrant style that emerged in the 1990s which has deeply influenced Orozco since his teenage years. Listeners will find echoes of legendary timba groups like NG La Banda, El Médico de la Salsa, and Isaac Delgado woven throughout the music of SonAhead. While stepping into the role of lead vocalist may seem novel to those who have followed Orozco’s career as a pianist over the past two decades, it’s not his first foray into this territory. During his studies at the National School of Arts (ENA) in Cuba, he formed his own band, serving as bandleader, arranger, composer, and vocalist. After graduating from ENA, Orozco moved to Venezuela, immersing himself in a rich and new cultural landscape that allowed him to take a little break from his Cuban roots and explore the beautiful music and culture of Venezuela. Now, after spending 14 years in Venezuela and 14 years in the United States, he has returned to his Cuban musical heritage with SonAhead, enriched by the diverse influences and experiences he has gathered along his remarkable life journey.