Eric Arellano

California native, Eric Arellano, has had an affinity towards music since the early age of 9. As a saxophonist and composer, his desire to perform and share music has led him to many positive experiences around the world. Eric's ambition for music continues to grow, with a rich background in jazz, he also immerses himself in soul, R&B, Funk, Latin, hip-hop, electronic, world, and classical music.

He grew up in a household with diverse music filling the air. He was fortunate to hear the likes of Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Prince, Muddy Waters, Journey, Steely Dan, Toto, Janis Joplin, Fleetwood Mac, Micheal Jackson, Dave Ellis and Al Jerrau to Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Debussy, and Brahms, among others. This opened the door to his curiosity and his amition to discover other kinds of music.

He began studying saxophone under the guidance of Celia Cottle and Mike McMullen in Sacramento, California. He has also studied with Peter Epstein, co-founder of the School of Improvisational Music and current Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. In 2001, Eric was a member of the Monterey Jazz Festival All-Star Big Band, touring many jazz festivals in Japan. Eric attended the Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City (2001 and 2002), receiving best Tenor Saxophone & Clarinet Soloist in 2002. In the summer of 2002, Eric had the privilege to attend JAS Academy in Aspen, Colorado under the mentorship of Benny Green, Christian McBride, Lewis Nash and Russell Malone. In the summer of 2003, he traveled back to NYC and studied at the School of Improvisational Music under Ralph Alessi, Ravi Coltrane, Matana Roberts and David Binney. Eric attended University of Nevada, there he studied under Peter Epstein and David Ake. In May 2006, he graduated with an applied music degree in Jazz Performance. He also attended California State University: Sacramento in 2002, 2006, and 2007 joining the Latin Jazz Ensemble, Small Group, and Big Band. Music has now led Eric to continue his music education abroad to Sweden at Göteborg University: Academy of Music and Drama. Currently, Eric has the privilege of the guidance from Anders Jormin, Anders Hagberg, and Peter Burman. He is projected to graduate with a Masters Degree in Improvisation May 2010. Eric currently leads and participates in several small ensembles. His most current projects include Alegria Orchestra: The Music of Wayne Shorter, Kleine Scheisse Band, Prince Bulo Band and Evert Taube Orchestern: Tira Vento. His most current work has taken him to tours in USA, South Africa, and Germany. He has had the privilege to perform with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Victor Goines, Vincent Gardner, Randy Brecker, Joe Gilman, Paul Contos, Gary Stevens, Greg Hopkins, Tim Ries, Annie Sellick, Jim Martinez, Walter Gaete and Geoff Keezer. Eric's joy is to continuously develop as a musician and to be active in sharing the gift of music. His inspiration to make and perform music lies in the opportunity to tastefully combine tradition, creativity, and originality.

www.ericarellano.com
www.myspace.com/ericarellano