Check Out Carlos Ferreyra’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Ferreyra.

Hi Carlos, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start off, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m from Uruguay. I moved to St. Joseph, MO, in 2001 when I was 14 years old. I’ve always loved music. One of my earliest memories is from going to see my uncle perform at the National Ballet of Uruguay; he was the main character in the Nutcracker. I remember loving the music, and seeing the orchestra musicians performing always intrigued me. Since then, I knew I wanted to be a musician.

I was in the 8th grade when I moved to the USA. One day, while at school, I realized there was a school band. I asked my Mom for a clarinet so that I could join the band. So she found a used clarinet from a friend and the rest is history. Ever since then I’ve been working towards my goal of becoming a professional musician. I studied classically throughout High School and a few years in college. I really enjoyed those years of my life, and I miss playing classical music, but in my early 20’s I found a new love– Jazz. I took some time off from music around that same time and, instead, worked in retail banking for a few years.

At the time, I thought that was a more stable career choice, although I always found myself coming back to my instrument wishing I was practicing more and perfecting my craft. While working my 8 to 5 job at the bank, I also worked nights at a restaurant waiting tables. The owner of the restaurant knew I played the clarinet and wanted some live music for the cocktail hour, so he asked me if I could put together a group. I jumped on that opportunity and ever since then, I have been working on my craft and growing my musical portfolio. I’ve performed at many company Christmas parties, Bars and Clubs, Festival Stages and backyard parties around the country. Also, I had the privilege and pleasure of calling New Orleans, LA, my home for a few years. Now I’m back in the KC area loving all its rich Jazz history and enjoying the flourishing music scene.

Alright. So, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like everything in life, it isn’t always a smooth road but the size of my suspension allows me to absorb the bumps on the road with minimal disruption to my course. Having to maintain a day job and, at the same time, work on my music career isn’t always easy. At times I’ve had to put my social life on pause and manage my time very efficiently to be able to improve on my music while simultaneously maintaining a good work-life balance. Luckily, I have a great partner who has always been very supportive.

Thanks. So, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Throughout the years, I’ve performed in Ska bands, Honky-tonk bands, Funk and a variety of other genres. From these experiences, I have built a wide repertoire of songs and styles of music that allow me to perform in a variety of different genres and bands. The one genre I enjoy playing the most is Jazz. From New Orleans Jazz to Kansas City Swing and New York Bebop, I love it all. Recently, I’ve been working with a group that specializes in the KC Swing style of the 1930’s and 40’s in the tradition of Benny Moten, Count Basie, Jay McShann, and the alike. The loose and relaxed yet energetic Kansas City Swing style allows for great creativity, exchanging riffs and rhythmic variations between each band member that add to the excitement of the performance.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Live music, in general, has taken a hit with the Covid-19 pandemic and things were a bit slow for a while. But, little by little, venues are starting to bring back live music so things are looking up. KC has always had a great Jazz scene and in the recent years, it’s had a significant growth in local talent and musicians from out of town moving in to enjoy the rich Jazz history in the city. I think the future is bright for Jazz in KC and the world as a whole.

Contact Info:

• Email: cferreyra24@gmail.com
• Website: www.carlosferreyramusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cferreyra24/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlosFerreyraSaxophone