Jazz pianist Jesus Molina took his first professional music lesson less than 10 years ago by way of a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music, in Boston. Today he’s being acknowledged as a global phenom, recently coming off a Boston Pops debut performing with Branford Marsalis. Molina will perform on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 at the 2024 John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival (JCIJBF).
MODELING THE BEST IN JAZZ
Born Jesus Javier Molina Acosta, in Sincelejo, Colombia, the 27-year-old, multi-instrumentalist had to take classes to learn English when he flew to America for the first time in 2016. Today, Molina has played on some of the most important stages in the world including NAMM Show (the music, sound and event industry trade show), and the Tribeca Performing Arts Center. He’s played with jazz greats Mike Stern, John Patitucci, Randy Brecker, Arturo Sandoval, and Noel Schajris.
After previous recordings, including Agape (God’s Love), and Departing, featuring covers of classic jazz standards such as Chick Corea’s “Spain,” and Dizzy Gillespie’s “A Night in Tunisia” along with several originals, Molina has released Selah, his latest 10-song, instrumental album featuring famed violinist Lucia Micarelli, and flute and piccolo solos by jazz legend Hubert Laws. Molina plays both piano, and soprano sax, fronting a trio including bassist Guy Bernfeld, and drummer Cain Daniel, two fellow Berklee College of Music alumni. The release boasts the influence of Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea, Art Tatum, Errol Garner and Bill Evans on Molina’s music.
BOLD, MAGNIFICENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Molina loves and he also loves sharing his gift. Molina offers Masterclasses for universities, conservatories, institutes and churches and is also an online Zoom tutor with a following of 25,000 students. As a performer, producer and educator, Molina combines all his influences for putting together a unique sound.
It is not only his musical ability which astounds, but his personal story, going from more than 375 pounds down to 175 with the help of gastric sleeve surgery in 2018 and a large helping of self-discipline. “Once I lost all that weight, it freed the position of my arms and hands so that I could be much more flexible and comfortable playing and, I have much more energy”.
