Bio

A native of Bogotá Colombia, Fidel lived in New York City for a decade, before relocating to the Boulder-Denver (Colorado) area in 2017.

He graduated Suma Cum Laude from the City College of New York’s jazz performance program in 2009, and earned a Master in Music in Studio Composition in 2016, from the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College (SUNY), where he  also worked as a guest lecturer. He studied with some of the great names in Jazz, such as Bruce Barth, Andy Laverne, and the late John Abercrombie.  

Fidel’s stylistic versatility but distinct pianistic approach has put him in the radar of some of New York’s best jazz, latin jazz, and world-music musicians. Fidel’s recording credits include “Thoughts” by Jimenez, featuring the great Vince Cherico on drums and Ruben Rodríguez on bass. He has performed as bandleader and sideman in world-class venues and festivals such as Iridium, Joe’s Pub, The Knitting Factory, La Casita Festival at Lincoln Center, and the Encuentro de Músicos Colombianos at The Highline Ballroom and at Le Poisson Rouge.

Fidel serves as Musical Director for St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Longmont, CO. His freelance composition work ranges from documentary scores to commercial pieces for advertorials.  

"Cuellar’s piano, for some reason, called to my mind the technique and genteel approach of pianists Ahmad Jamal, Randy Weston, and Bill Evans. (...) Cuellar tends to arrange his music in ways that optimize the use of musical dynamics for affect and subtlety." Jorge Mateus, Grammy-award winning producer