Javo Barrera

Javo Barrera hails from Mexico City and has earned three Grammy awards across his roles as drummer, composer, producer, bandleader, and arranger. Although his solo projects concentrate on contemporary jazz, his session and performance contributions span an unusually broad spectrum of styles. In those capacities he has served as musical director and bandleader for La Quinta Estación, Mel Gaynor of Simple Minds, Alejandra Guzman, Natalia Jimenez, Paulina Rubio, Cristian Castro, Carlos Baute, Emmanuel, and additional artists.

Barrera spent his early years at the distinguished Esquela Ollin Yoliztli in Mexico City, where maestro Armando Zerquera instructed him in symphonic percussion, piano, composition, and arranging. That training enabled him to gain command of classical, progressive rock, and jazz, after which he entered the Latin pop circuit as a session musician, touring performer, and musical director.

Behind the Tree, his first jazz-fusion release, reached audiences in 2014 and prompted a supporting tour. Relaxing Light Music followed in 2015. In the years after those projects Barrera remained steadily engaged in recordings and live work with many of the musicians already mentioned. Far from Home appeared in 2017; the set of his own compositions included contributions from Najee, Rene Toledo, Osmany Paredes, Luis Aquino, and Andrew Gouche.