Javier Rosario

Diving Into Ukulele*

Guitar virtuoso, composer and bandleader, Javier Rosario is the first ever Michel Camilo
Scholarship winner. The scholarship was an initiative of the Dominican born, Grammy and
Emmy Award winning pianist. It was the first scholarship of its kind in the history of the
Dominican Republic, where Javier was born in Santo Domingo. In 2006, Javier attended Berklee
College of Music with a full scholarship, graduating with the highest ratings ever given to a
guitarist. In 2009, he performed at the Berklee Jazz and Blues Guitar Night: a concert which only
featured the very top players of the entire school. Javier is one of only a few Dominicans who
have performed at the world-famous Blue Note jazz club in NYC as part of their Emerging Jazz
Series. In 2010, Javier decided to further his studies at the Longy School of Music of Bard
College with a master’s degree. There he was acknowledged by his guitar teachers as possibly
the highest-level guitarist ever to enter the jazz program. Javier is a bandleader who travels the
northeast and southwest of the United States and the Dominican Republic with his trio,
performing his original music and promoting his debut album, Javier Rosario Trio Vol. I: A
Celebration of Life. He is also an active member of the Matt Savage Groove Experiment, a
fusion band led by Bösendorfer piano artist, Matt Savage, with whom he has recorded music for
two jazz documentaries: Sound of Redemption: The Frank Morgan Story and Life Crime as well
as the album Splash Variations.

Among the musicians Javier has performed with are: Joe Lovano, Bret Willmott, John
Lockwood, Oscar Stagnaro, Alberto Netto, Fernando Huergo, Winston Maccow Matt Savage,
Zachary King, Scott Kiefner, Aaron Holthus, Avery Logan, Bob Edinger, Vardan Ovsepian, Jeff
Galindo, Phil Grenadier, Akos Forgacs, Nikolas Anadolis and many more. Javier has performed
at Blue Note in New York City, Casa de Teatro Jazz Festival, A-Town Jazz Festival, Radio Bean
Jazz Fest, Strand Theater, Massachusetts’ State House, Cornelia Street Cafe, St. Botolph Club,
Berklee Performance Center, Pianos NYC, Shrine World Music Venue, Silvana, Port City Blue,
Riverwalk Cafe & Music Bar, Thunder Road, Pete’s Candy Store, Button Factory Stage, Tonic,
just to name a few. Currently, he is a faculty member at Community Music Center of Boston,
Amigos School and Morse School.
“Javier Rosario was my first scholarship winner at Berklee College of Music and I am delighted
to see that he has blossomed into a creative artist with a refined guitar technique and an
extensive knowledge of the jazz idiom. He is a young talent that is contributing to the multi-
cultural richness and diversity of our jazz community.”
—Grammy, Latin Grammy and Emmy award winning pianist, Michel Camilo
“Javier Rosario is a masterful and deeply musical guitarist. His playing is always dynamic and
beautiful.” —Best Guitarist by Down Beat Critics’ Poll, Joe Morris

“Javier Rosario is a creative and hard-working musician, constantly charting new musical
territory through his dark and intense playing style. Javier’s sound is powerful, virtuosic,
forward-looking, and yet accessible.” —Bösendorfer piano artist, Matt Savage

“Guitarist Javier Rosario goes both electric and acoustic on this muscular and musical
collection of originals. As palpable as Rosario’s tone is while plugged in for the trio format, his
solo material is tender and patient. The combination of assertive trio and impressionistic
unplugged moments makes for rewarding listening for jazz guitar fans and aficionados.” —Jazz Weekly