composer + pianist
Conceived as a "blind movie", each track is a sonic picture, a scene that imagines the life of a man who's life revolves around a yearly magnificent event.
(See news article that inspired the story).
All music by Fidel Cuellar
(Dell and Apple commercials are used for demonstration purposes only; they were not originally aired with Fidel's music.)
All Music by Fidel Cuellar
(All videos posted with permission of producers.)
"Inventive, soulful, and surprising, with an impressive attention to detail in the ensembles. (...) One foot planted firmly in the past while stepping nimbly into the future of jazz music with the other."
- Eric Alexander
"Audiograph is more than just a clever play on words (...) With six pieces delivered by a potent quintet (...) the set contains expressive performances with its robust horns and rich harmonies"
- Mark F. Turner, All About Jazz
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
