Emy Castro Peruvian Jazz Quintet

A 2025 Madison Jazz Festival Event

Madison Jazz Festival 2025 and Allen Centennial Garden present the Summer Sundays Jazz in the Garden Kickoff with Emy Castro Peruvian Jazz Quintet, Sunday, June 8, 2025 from 5:00pm to 6:15pm.

Emy Castro’s powerful voice is immersed in the captivating world of Peruvian Creole music (music Criollo), channeling her exuberant vigor in service of preserving the rich cultural tapestry and heritage of a people. Joining Emy will be Sebastian Roman (saxophone), Richard Hildner (guitar), Nick Moran (bass), and Paddy Cassidy (percussion).

Emy Castro

Emy Castro's first notes came from the weeping at her own birth, emanated amidst sand dunes of literary feats in the Piura horizon in Peru. At four the family pilgrimages in search of opportunities in Lima. Emy, infant version, burst into the Creole world under the guidance of the icon Augusto Polo Campos and from her musical dawn she traveled through the traditional spaces associated to this musical genre. After storming in as a fierce winner of children and adolescent contests, she took refuge in mundane work for the family. Today, Emy awakens to embrace the popular songs of her youth. Take note, Emy returns with exuberant vigor to contribute to the preservation of the heritage of the culture of a people.

Sebastian Roman

Sebastian Roman was born in Lima, Peru, and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was eight-years-old.

Roman explains, "I play the tenor sax. I started in 10th grade, after hearing my high school big band play live. I fell in love with the intensity that band could transmit. I had been producing EDM music in FL Studio for years up until that point, and I figured a sax would be a cool addition. I got hooked.

Soon after, the EDM I was always bumping was replaced by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. By the time I graduated, I had auditioned into the top big band and competed at Jazz At Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington in NYC twice.

I inevitably decided to study classical saxophone performance at Lawrence University, which came with its own set of challenges. Mainly the fact that I couldn’t study jazz until I passed what they called “the certified... Read More

Richard Hildner Armacanqui

Richard Hildner Armacanqui was born in Madison, Wisconsin to an American father and a Peruvian mother. His mother’s family gradually emigrated to the U.S. and he began learning Andean guitar with his grandfather and uncles from a young age where huayno music was part of every family gathering.

His love for Jazz began with his American grandfather who played drums and harmonica in Kansas City and when he went to college in N.C. he mentored with Thelonious Monk’s saxophonist Paul Jeffrey and was awarded the Lionel Hampton Endowment Award from Duke University. Upon returning to Madison WI he was part of the Black Music Ensemble under the direction of the legendary bassist Richard Davis.

He then went on to study Afro-Peruvian music with the legendary ambassador of the Peruvian Cajón, Juan Medrano Cotito and they have performed together extensively in the U.S. and in Peru. He studied in Peru with one the fathers of Afro-Peruvian guitar, the late Maestro... Read More

Nick Moran

Bassist Nick Moran is a veteran of Madison’s music scene and has been performing for over 20 years. A prolific bassist on both electric and the double bass, Nick regularly performs a diverse roster of musical genres including Jazz, Afro Latin, Hip Hop, Reggae, Funk, and more.

As a student UW-Eau Claire, Nick studied under the legendary bass educator Dr. James Clute of the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra. During that time, he had the honor of studying briefly with maestro Orlando ‘Cachaito’ Lopez of the famous Buena Vista Social Club. Nick Moran completed his studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in 2004.

Nick Moran has toured internationally and performed with a diverse collection of internationally renowned acts, including Ben Sidran, Lee ‘Scratch‘ Perry, Clyde Subblefield, David ‘Fathead‘ Newman (Ray Charles’ sax player), Ana Laan, cajón ambassador Juan ‘Cotito’ Medrano (Susana Baca, Novalima), dance hall pioneers Chaka Demus and Pliers... Read More

Paddy Cassidy

Paddy Cassidy plays percussion with a variety of musical acts, including Tani Diakite & the Afrofunkstars and WADOMA, both based in Madison, Wisconsin.

"I teach and arrange the music for WADOMA, and also help to arrange Tani’s music. But nothing inspires me quite like Immigré, a 10-piece afrobeat ensemble I founded along with some good friends and longtime musical collaborators."

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