Live Music – Louis Valenzuela

Louis Valenzuela is a working guitarist based in San Diego, performing throughout Southern California and beyond. He’s a founding member and contributing composer of the Afrojazziacs, an Afro-Latin-Jazz-Punk-Funk band known for its versatility and cross-border appeal, with frequent performances in Mexico at venues like the Ensenada Jazz Festival and La Covacha. The group was nominated for Best World Music at the 2013 San Diego Music Awards. Louis also plays guitar with JuiceBox, a Soul-Funk band led by Matthew Smith that’s rapidly gaining attention throughout the region, having just released its debut album, available on purple vinyl, with another recording on the way. He has been featured in both programs of the Westgate Hotel’s Jazz Guitar Series, curated by Gilbert Castellanos, and has performed and recorded with a range of notable artists and ensembles, including The B-Side Players, Dan Reagan (Marc Anthony, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra), Adrián Terrazas-González (The Mars Volta, T.R.A.M., JAZZTEC), and Artyom Manukyan. Beyond guitar, Louis plays Cuban tres with the Afrojazziacs and other ensembles, as well as oud with the Persian band Dornob. He holds a B.M. in Jazz Studies from San Diego State University.