Justo Almario
Founding Member - NETunes' Integrity Committee
Founding Member - NETunes' Talent Committee
Legendary Latin Jazz saxophonist/composer Justo Almario serves as a Member of NETunes' Advisory Board and is a Founding Member of NETunes' Talent and Integrity Committees.
The Integrity Committee advises NETunes' Board of Directors on all aspects of NETunes philosophy, vision, direction and execution. As of 1 January 2006, the Talent Committee will evaluate and approve all new NETunes affiliated artists, labels and releases.
At age 16, Justo Almario participated in a cultural exchange program that offered him the opportunity to tour the U.S. with a Colombian folklorico group. The tour eventually led to a permanent move to Boston in 1969 to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, the young saxophonist met Latin Jazz great Mongo Santamaria and was soon working with his band as music director.
Almario has gone on record several solo albums including Forever Friends, Plumbline, Family Time, Heritage, Count Me In and Love Thy Neighbor as well as contributing to numerous television and feature film soundtracks including Dirty Dancing, Trading Places, The Mambo Kings, The Birdcage, Speechless, Dance With Me, Just The Ticket and Living Out Loud.
He has performed as a featured soloist with the American Jazz Philharmonic and also toured and/or recorded Charlie Mingus, Freddie Hubbard, Chaka Khan, Linda Rondstadt, Roy Ayers, Dave Grusin, Tito Puente, Queen Latifah, Bebe Winans, Placido Domingo, Alex Acuna, Andrae Crouch and George Duke.
He is the 1996 recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award and is listed among the top 50 alumni in the history of the Berklee College of Music. He helped launch the Latin Jazz curriculum of the Berklee in Los Angeles Summer Program and has served as a teaching staff member of the Henry Mancini Institute.
Justo Almario has served as Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival and also been honored by the Hollywood Arts Council and the City of Los Angeles with awards for his contributions to Jazz.
