Carlos Sarmiento
Piano, Arranger and composer
Born in Cuba, Carlos Sarmiento received extensive training in music, and graduated as a percussionist from the prestigious School of Arts in Santa Clara. During that time, he studied piano and soon discovered his passion for this instrument.
Sarmiento began his professional career at 17, when he started playing piano with professional groups from his hometown. After having concluded his musical studies in 1989, he moved to Havana, where he worked as musician and arranger for Arte Vivo, a well-known Cuban rock band at that time.
In 1993, Sarmiento moved to Italy, where he played with several important musicians of the Italian music scene, such as Roberto Evangelisti, Piero Masciarelli ,Marco Siniscalco, Javier Jirotto ,Francesco Puglisi , Emanuele Smimmo ect . During the same period, he founded the Puente Latino quartet, along with Cuban violinist Ruben Chaviano. Either as part of the quartet or as a duet ensemble, Sarmiento and Chaviano performed together in festivals such as Urbino Jazz, Jazz Image, Fiera Torino, etc.
In 1995, Carlos Sarmiento joined Tony Esposito’s band, and also performed in several TV shows in Italy and elsewhere until 1999. In 1998, he played with the TC Gang Project, a band created by Italian’s drummer Tony Cerqua, and shared the stage with such artists as Orlando Johnson, Martha High, Sara Grimaldi, Jenny B, and others.
From 2000 to 2003, Sarmiento played alongside the famous Italian songwriter Teresa de Sio, including TV performances and music tours across Italy . At the end of 2003, he created the Manantiales quartet, featuring musicians from Peru, Italy and Cuba. He created most of the quartet’s repertoire. The ensemble took part in several festivals in Italy, such as Jazz in Sardegna, Urbane Jazz, Jazz Image, and Veneto Jazz.
From 2007 to 2009, Sarmiento was one of the musicians featured in a theater performance called Miracoli e Canzoni. In 2010, he was invited to play with the Gabin band on their European Tour. In 2013 Sarmiento won the first Best Music award for the documentary Puro Sangue in the Sport Film Festival held in Palermo, Italy. Recently won the best soundtrack award for the Short film “My Dolly” at the Caorle International Film Festival
Now in Miami, Sarmiento continues to work and create arrangements for some European musicians, and he is also performing music for documentaries and commercials featured in Europe and Asia.