Silvano Monasterios, a pianist-composer, was born in Caracas (Venezuela). While he was in his formative years, he trained at the Jose Angel Lamas Conservatory. He also encountered American jazz in all its forms. At the tender age of 18, Silvano began his professional career. He combined these influences with the best Venezuelan musicians of the day to record and perform. Silvano went to Miami in 1989 to take part in the Miami Jazz Festival. He was awarded the “Best Soloist Award”. By 1990 Silvano had moved to the United States to benefit from a scholarship at Miami-Dade College. He was awarded the University of Colorado’s “Outstanding Soloist Award” in 1991, and then the University of Miami music scholarship in 1995. Silvano won the Hennessey Cognac Jazz Search 1998 award for “New Artists of the Year”. This led to a slot at Playboy Jazz Festival, where he made many new friends and gained many fans. His first CD, “Roads Not Taken,” was released in 1998. This led to more attention from Latin America and the U.S. critics. Silvano continues to evolve and write while recording and performing with a diverse group of artists, including Larry Coryell and Nestor Torres and Paquito D’Rivera and Paul Wertico. Silvano was never satisfied and never settled. He returned to Miami in 2002 for a Master’s in Jazz Piano and Pedagogy. In 2005, DownBeat magazine honored Silvano with the “Best Jazz Instrumental Soloist” award at the 28th Annual Student Music Awards. He was also awarded the “Original Song, Outstanding Performer” category for “Avila.” This song was also included on the “Fostered” follow-up CD. In 2007, indie label Dogleg Music, released a live recording of the Wertico/Egan/Monasterios Trio entitled “Jazz Impressions” including more original songs. Sammy Figueroa, percussionist, released The Magician (Savant Records), a follow-up album that features performances, arrangements and production. It also includes two Monasterios compositions, including the title track. The album was nominated as the “Best Latin Jazz Album” for the 2008 Grammy Awards. In a subsequent Miami New Times issue, Silvano was named “Best Jazz Artist” by their Best of Miami issue. The next Figueroa CD, “Urban Nature”, was released by Senator Records in 2012. It features four new Monasterios manuscripts. Silvano, true to his personality and unrelenting desire for new challenges, formed a new quintet in 2011. He recorded his first CD with Savant Records. This prestigious label released “Unconditional”, which received great reviews and was one of the most popular jazz records in America in 2011. Silvano moved to New York City in 2015. He returned to the studio immediately to begin work on his next album. Silvano will produce a brand new CD called “Party Sunny” that Savant Records will release in the summer. This album features nine stunning compositions by Monasterios, as well as the incredible artistry of Anat Cohen (clarinet), Troy Roberts (saxophones), Robert Quintero (percussion) and Silvano’s long-time collaborators Jonathan Dadurka (bass) and Rodolfo Zuniga (drums).
