Ricardo Gallo’s Bogotá-based quartet is formed along with some of the most active and creative Colombian musicians such as percussionist Juan David Castaño, drummer Jorge Sepúlveda and bassist Juan Manuel Toro, maintaining this line-up together since 2005. Ricardo Gallo Cuarteto has developed a varied repertoire reflecting multiple interests which can be appreciated in five albums of original music: Los Cerros Testigos (2005), Urdimbres y Marañas (2007), Resistencias (2010), Tribu del Asfalto (2013), and En Tránsito (2018), all of them included in the collective La Distritofonica’s catalogue.
Their music is nurtured by diverse traditions like Colombian musical folklore from several regions, traditional music from other countries of Latin America as well as from Africa, jazz from different periods, creative American music, contemporary Western music and free improvisation.
The work of this group has been recognized in publications at home and abroad, and has taken them to festivals such as: International Jazz Festival at Teatro Libre and Festival Jazz al Parque in Bogotá, Novara Jazz Festival in Italy, Jazztopad Festival in Poland, International Jazz Festival at Buenos Aires Argentina, International Jazz Festival in Lima Peru, Festival Iberoamericano de las Artes in Puerto Rico, International Festival Barranquijazz and International Jazz Festival in Manizales in Colombia, as well as in venues in Switzerland, Barcelona, Rome, Santiago de Chile, Berlin, New York, and in the main stages in Bogotá.
“Colombian born, Ricardo Gallo has been making waves on the American scene for a few years now (…) His most exciting recordings for me have been with his formidable quartet (…) Gallo has well rounded and enterprising style that sizzles with each album he produces. While mixing avant garde tendencies and Latin American influences may sound frightening to the uninitiated, you may be very surprised by the results (…) “Resistencias” [the third album by the quartet] states that Ricardo Gallo is an emerging artist/composer that should not be overlooked. This is one of the best Ricardo Gallo albums to date.”
Stephen Moore for U.S. site JazzWrap
“They play with an easy-going grace, as if divorced from the overbearing pressures and constant demands for innovation and novelty, which make so many otherwise fine albums from the UK or USA sound contrived by comparison”
Tim Owen for British site TheJazzMann
“dazzling pianist Gallo—a Colombian now living in New York City—and his Bogata-based band cooked up a refreshing new and personal variation on Latin Jazz as we know it, juggling and sometimes deconstructing Colombian folk and rhythmic spirits within a jazz perspective and weaving in touches of abstraction”
Josef Woodard for Downbeat, on 2016 appearance of RGC at Jazztopad, Wroclaw, Poland.
“Among the memorable high points was the distinctive, fertile cross-rhythmic and cross-cultural energy of Colombian pianist Ricardo Gallo and his Cuarteto—blending familiar folkloric, jazz and “Latin Jazz” characteristics with refreshingly new musical chemistries”
Another piece by Josef Woodard on Downbeat, about 2016 appearance of RGC at Jazztopad, Wroclaw, Poland.
1. Frontera Quebradiza 2. La Distritofobia 3. Ventanas 4. Remolino Humano 5. Aterrizando, una vez más 6. Bailemesta 7. El Trasnochado 8. Esto es un Paseo
Juan David Castaño: percussion Ricardo Gallo: piano Jorge Sepúlveda: drums Juan Manuel Toro: double bass
Recorded at Novara Jazz Festival, Italy on June 2nd 2012. Mixed by Julián Gallo at JuGa Music, Bogotá, Colombia. Mastered by Carlos Arturo Silva at C1Mastering, Bogotá, Colombia. Designed by Ricardo Gallo. Photo by Max Catanzaro.
Juan David Castaño: percussion
Ricardo Gallo: piano
Jorge Sepúlveda: drums
Juan Manuel Toro: double bass
Produced by: Ricardo Gallo
Recorded at: Sala Juan Segundo Parra, Bogotá Colombia 6/Sep/2015
Recorded and mixed by: Julián Gallo -JuGa Music
Assistant Engineer: Vanesa Ocoro
Mastered by: Seth Foster at Sterling Sound NYC, U.SA.
Design: Carmen Gil Vrolijk
All music by Ricardo Gallo except 2, 4, and 5 by Sepúlveda, Castaño, and Toro respectively.
Produced by Ricardo Gallo.
Recorded Live at Festival de Jazz del Teatro Libre, Bogotá, Colombia September 5, 2012.
Recorded and mixed by: Julián Gallo
Mastered by Camilo Giraldo, Bogotá, Colombia.
Design: Nicolás Herrera
Cover Art: Ernesto Salmerón, 2012.
Group Photo: Catalina Villamizar.
All music by Ricardo Gallo except “Carola y Pascual”, by Jorge Sepúlveda, “Kitchen Kuartet Kumbia” by Juan David Castaño, and “Iky” by Juan Manuel Toro.
Produced by Ricardo Gallo.
Recorded at Auditorio Skandia, Bogotá, Colombia January 30 and 31, 2010.
Recording Engineer: Julián Gallo
Mixed by Christian Kauffman and Ricardo Gallo in Astoria, NY.
Mastered by Eblis Alvarez en Bogotá, Colombia.
Art Direction: Nicolás Herrera and Ricardo Gallo.
Design: Nicolás Herrera.
All music written by Ricardo Gallo except track 8 written by Juan Manuel Toro.
Produced by Ricardo Gallo.
Recorded at Estudios Ávila Musical, Bogotá, Colombia, august 26th and 27th.
Recording Engineer: Ernesto Santos
Assistant Engineer: Julián Gallo
Mixed by Ernesto Santos and Ricardo Gallo at Plastik 5, Bogotá.
Mastered by Katherine Miller at Annandale Recording, North Plainfield, New Jersey.
Art Direction: Nicolás Herrera and Ricardo Gallo.
Graphic Design: Nicolás Herrera.
All music written by Ricardo Gallo except “Chontaduro Free-to”, composed by Ricardo Gallo, Jorge Sepúlveda, Juan Manuel Toro and Juan David Castaño.
Produced by Ricardo Gallo
Recorded at Sonolux studios, Bogotá, Colombia august 10th, 2005.
Recording Engineer: Marco Silva.
Mixed by Mark Helias and Ricardo Gallo at Radio Legs Music Studio, New York City.
Mastered by Katherine Miller at Annandale Recording, North Plainfield, New Jersey.
Graphic design: Nicolás Herrera
