Carlos Maldonado Cisneros

Carlos Maldonado Cisneros is an iconic figure on both the Canadian and Mexican jazz scenes, moving effortlessly between two rich and complementary musical cultures. Having shared the stage with legends such as Marcus Miller and Tower of Power, and collaborated with international heavyweights like Ben Wendel and Greg Cohen, he brings to the festival a broad and diverse vision of jazz.
A graduate of the Schulich School of Music at McGill University (Master's in Jazz Composition and Performance), Carlos is also the founder of several bold ensembles, including the avant-garde Chocolate Smoke Gang, reflecting his constant drive to push the boundaries of the genre. A founding member of the Festival de Jazz de North Hatley, he serves as one of its Artistic Directors, bringing the same passion and boldness that defines his music to the festival's creative vision.