Josh Aguiar is one of LA’s up-and-coming trumpeters, pianists and composers in jazz and improvised music. While growing up in Los Angeles, Aguiar studied with legendary jazz cornetist Bob Bradford. Later he ventured out to Indiana University, Bloomington for undergraduate studies in jazz, graduating in 2000. At IU, he minored in Chinese, and subsequently spent the next 3 ½ years studying and eventually working in Taiwan.

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Returning to Los Angeles in 2004, Aguiar focused his attention on the local scene, and has been involved in a number of worthy projects. He recently completed his MFA in jazz studies at CalArts in Valencia, where he studied with Charlie Haden, David Roitstein, Vinny Golia, Larry Koonse, and many other fine musician instructors.

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He has played with such jazz luminaries as Joe La Barbera, Bob Sheppard, Bill Cunliffe, Butch Morris, Vinny Golia, Darek Oles, David Baker. He has also lent his talents to popular music ensembles in Taiwan, such as indie band “Sticky Rice”, and LA-based funk-roots fusion ensemble “Subway to Venus.” Aguiar has been increasingly heading groups playing his own compositions at venues throughout the Los Angeles area.

A sensitive, lyrical player with a warm, rounded tone, Aguiar has earned numerous plaudits from colleagues in the field. In 2000, he was awarded second prize in the International Trumpet Guild’s Jazz Improvisation Contest. Also in 2000, at the recommendation of jazz education guru David Baker, he received a coveted Player’s Certificate after performing for a committee of Indiana University musical faculty. Saxophonist Chuck Manning of the LA Jazz Quartet summed up Aguiar’s playing: “He plays the trumpet with a depth and harmonic knowledge of someone twice his age. He also has something that is rare at any age and that is a soulful and swinging sound with a singular style that communicates a story in every solo.”

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Artist website: www.joshaguiar.com