Colombian native, Justo Almario is a reedman and clinician as well as a composer, arranger, and composer. He has incorporated Latin, Afro-Cuban and South American jazz genres into his humble offering. Before joining Mongo Santamaria, Mr. Almario was a student at the Berklee School of Music. Justo has performed with Patrice Rushen, Roy Ayers and George Duke. A multi-instrumentalist of the highest caliber, Mr. Almario has mastered the soprano and tenor saxophones, clarinet and flute. Justo engages his listeners in rhythmic, call and response interludes. Justo is influenced by John Coltrane and Antonio Carlos Jobim as well as Bach, Bartok, Debussy, Cannonball Adderly and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Almario has also been an educator. He taught saxophone in Cal State Los Angeles between 2006 and 2008. He has taught in clinics across the United States as well as in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Puerto Rico. He has also taught privately and mentored youth at workshops at the World Stage in Los Angeles. Almario, who was then a member of the Cedar Walton, Terrence blanchard, and Joe Lovano bands, was an integral part the 1992 Newport Jazz Festival Tour produced by George Wein. Justo’s recordings, which featured four tracks, earned Grammy nominations two years later. Andrae Crouch and Cachao also received Grammy nominations for their “Mercy” and “Master Sessions, Vol. Grammy winners were “1”. His latest CD, “Love Thy Neighbor”, features Justo’s quartet performing original compositions and rare standards. Justo is a man for all seasons. He was the featured soloist with Los Angeles Master Chorale’s season opener at Walt Disney Hall and also performed at the Christmas concert “Celebrar” at the same venue. Justo’s remarkable career was celebrated in a segment of “World Stage Stories”, an oral history series that chronicles jazz’s evolution. from www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu
