Puerto Rican Composer, Saxophonist Edgar Abraham

Edgar Abraham is a saxophonist, composer and master of sixteen instruments. Additionally, he is the creator of the unmatched Hyper-Virtuoso technique for the saxophone. His enlightened musicianship spans the universe, ranging from symphonic compositions to avant-garde jazz improvisations. Undoubtedly, Edgar is one of the most prodigious and talented musicians in the world today. He began playing the violin at the age of three, mentored by his father, Edgard Marrero, a veteran classical musician who has diligently tutored him throughout Edgar´s life.

At the age of nine, Edgar began studying the saxophone. At fourteen he made his professional debut with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra. A year later, he performed in a series of recitals entitled “Virtuoso” at the Tapia Theater (San Juan’s historic, colonial theater), the Ponce Museum of Art (which houses Lord Frederick Leighton´s Flaming June), and the Puerto Rico Fine Arts Center. At sixteen, Edgar studied under the tutorship of Eugene Rosseau at Indian Head Arts Center in Wisconsin. Three years later, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music.

In 2005, he received two Emmy nominations for his TV special “Edgar Abraham at the Heineken Jazz Fest 2004”, which PBS has shown in more than 70 countries. In 2007, he was nominated for a Grammy in the Composer for Symphonic Choir category. As a solo artist, Edgar has sixteen releases, featuring some of the world´s foremost musicians, such as Eddie Gomez, Cheo Feliciano, Dave Valentin, Richie Flores, and Endel Dueño.

Edgar´s superb mastery of sixteen instruments, as previously mentioned, has led him to perform as pianist with Latin Jazz heavyweight Jerry González, as well as playing timbales for the Gypsy Kings, and saxophone for El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Stomp, Giovanni Hidalgo, Alex Acuña, Nestor Torres, Jerry Medina, and rap heavies Calle 13.

Prof. Antonio Quijano
Director, Institute for the Advancement of Aural Arts.
Author of “The Secessionist Method of Composition Encyclopedia”