“TIMESCAPE” Album Launch
“TIMESCAPE“, Giovany Arteaga Valdez’s debut solo album launches during the excitement of Montreal’s Jazz fever on July 3rd at the PHI. The show will feature international guest musicians from across North America and Cuba. More info HERE!
Giovany Arteaga is a Cuban saxophonist born in Havana in 1977, into a family of musicians. He began his musical studies at the age of 9 at the Manuel Saumell School, then continued at the National School of Arts (ENA) and the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory. Early on, he collaborated with iconic figures of Cuban music such as Xiomara Laugart and Omara Portuondo (Buena Vista Social Club).
Settled in Canada since 1998, Arteaga pursued his studies in jazz performance at the University of Montreal, where he joined the university Big Band and shared the stage with Ginette Reno, Alain Caron, and Gregory Charles. Winner of several prestigious awards, he notably received the General Motors Grand Jazz Prize in 2008 with Arden Arapyan‘s group and founded his own project, Cuban Conexion, which was awarded the Syli d’Or Grand Prize in 2011.
An eclectic and virtuosic musician, he blends jazz, Latin music, pop, and world sounds. He has performed on renowned stages such as the Francos de Montréal, the Québec Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club (London), and as the opening act for Diana Ross in North America.
Since 2022, he has been touring with Corneille in Canada and Europe. He is also active as a composer for film and video games, and won the Best Original Song award at Diversity in Cannes for Fuego. He is currently preparing for the release of Timescape (July 2025), an album featuring Giovanni Hidalgo and Horacio “El Negro” Hernández.
A dedicated educator, Arteaga participates in music camps alongside legends such as Mike Mangini and Dennis Chambers, and is developing an innovative approach to immersive sound (Dolby Atmos).
“TIMESCAPE” Album Launch
“TIMESCAPE“, Giovany Arteaga Valdez’s debut solo album launches during the excitement of Montreal’s Jazz fever on July 3rd at the PHI. The show will feature international guest musicians from across North America and Cuba. More info HERE!
Playlist
A selection of tracks from Giovany’s forthcoming album “TIMESCAPE”.
Video
A Selection of YouTube interviews, documentary footage and performances from Giovany’s musical life.
Music
“TIMESCAPE” – a vision shaped by the world.
This musical project is the result of seven years of dedication, inspired by Giovany’s travels around the globe. Born in Havana, he grew up in a deeply musical environment, guided by his father, a renowned Cuban flutist. As a young boy, he followed his father from gig to gig, surrounded by some of the most influential musicians of the time.
Giovany chose the saxophone as his primary instrument and later moved to Montreal to pursue his university studies. Encouraged by his father—who had already moved to Canada to continue his career—Giovany developed his skills as a composer and multi-instrumentalist, also embracing the flute.
Over the years, he has performed with acclaimed bands in Canada and internationally. Touring the globe helped him hone his stylistic agility and deepen his multicultural musical voice. His sound fuses Latin roots with jazz, reflecting both his Cuban heritage and global perspective.
Known for powerful, expressive performances on saxophone—especially baritone and alto, but also soprano, tenor, and bass—Giovany brings a rare combination of strength and sensitivity to the stage.
An album, a journey
This album traces his artistic path on the world stage, while staying deeply rooted in Latin and jazz traditions. Collaborations with musicians met during his travels gave this acoustic recording its depth and authenticity. It is a work of heart and storytelling.
“I’m interested in exploring contemporary form and pushing the boundaries of the audience experience, both in live performances and spatialized sound installations.”
Influences
Though Cuban-born, Giovany has been heavily influenced by American jazz and funk. His musical inspirations include Grover Washington, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny, Hubert Laws, Dave Valentin, Eddie Daniels, Eric Marienthal, and the Yellow Jackets.