Born in Pamplona, Spain in 1982, NYC based trombone player Juanga Lakunza completed his BM degree in Jazz Studies at Musikene-Basque Country (Spain) and his MM degree in Jazz studies at Codarts-Rotterdam (Netherlands). During his studies, Juanga studied with Bart van Lier, Ilja Reijngoud, Perico Sambeat, Toni Belenguer, Elliot Mason, Steve Davis and Marshall Gilkes. Juanga has performed with various Jazz and Latin Jazz bands on the European scene and has participated at venues including the North Sea Jazz Festival; Donostia Heineken Jazzaldia; Penang Island Jazz Festival; London-Ontario Sunfest; and Havana Jazz Plaza.
He has recorded and performed with many different bands, including the Lakunza Brothers; Tana Santana Project; Oscar Feldman Sextet; Holland Big Band; John Benitez Band; Xiomara and Axel Laugart; Oriente Lopez; Les Rodgers Big Band; Anaut; CaboCuba Jazz; SOLJO; Luisito Quintero Project; Timbazo and Broken Brothers Brass Band to name a few. As an educator, Juanga is part of the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, a music program created by big band leader and piano player Arturo O’Farrill that provides free music education for kids in NYC Public Schools. In 2018, Juanga was awarded a full scholarship at New Jersey City University, where he is combining Master Studies with a teaching position in the Jazz department.
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